Sigtuna Flea Market Find: The Medieval Lady and Hidden 1970 Letters

It’s the unexpected stories that make the search worthwhile. During a recent flea market visit in Sigtuna, my attention was drawn to a simple silver-colored metal frame. Inside it was a detailed, fascinating etching of a woman in historical attire – masterfully signed “R Cavaller 70 Stockholm”.

The paper bore traces of age, a beautiful foxing that only decades can impart. But the real discovery was made only when we turned the frame over. Behind the backing, hidden for over half a century, lay two handwritten Christmas letters from 1970.

The Time Capsule to Heidelberg

The letters are addressed to a young woman named “Vippan”, who was in Heidelberg to study German. Through the ink on the yellowed paper, we are transported directly into a Swedish family’s Christmas celebration in 1970. It’s a story of longing, of the “grey” Swedish winter, and of a mother sending a small piece of art to brighten things up in a foreign land.

The mother also reveals the etching’s origin. She writes: “Save the card, it’s an etching by our mutual friend Raman, as you can see.” A personal imprint from a bygone era, captured in ink and paper.

The Letters in Full

To preserve the history intact, we have transcribed both letters in their entirety.

Letter from Mother (Christmas 1970)

Christmas 1970
My dearest little Vippan!
With this little medieval lady, who so beautifully extends her arms to you, I want to wish you a truly lovely Christmas celebration in a “foreign land”. It’s not the first time you’ve celebrated Christmas far from home, but before we’ve arranged a little “private” Christmas Eve – this year I’m only with you in spirit. I’m sure you’ll have a pleasant weekend in every respect, and I hope you can decorate with the various “Christmas items” I’m sending along. I think of you often and miss you, and I’m very happy with your many lovely letters that you send us so diligently; I myself have been poor at letter writing this autumn.

It’s been a very busy and hectic semester at the institute, and one also suffers from terribly depressing weather. It gets to you, it’s just grey, grey, every day, and dark. We’ll have a very quiet Christmas; Thomas is coming as usual, one day Astri M. will visit, and one day we’ll go to Katarina’s.

I hope little Kerstin B., who is coming with Latta, will be well looked after and integrated into your community; from the little I’ve seen of her, she seems to be a very sweet girl.

Save the card, it’s an etching by our mutual friend Raman, as you can see. Big warm hugs and many thoughts from Your Mother.

Letter from Uncle Eric

Dear little Vippan,
Thank you for all the greetings in your letters! And now I want to wish you a truly pleasant and successful stay in Heidelberg. May the new year also bring you success with your studies in the beautiful German language. And of course, I wish you good health and cheer.

Your very devoted
Uncle Eric

Say hello to little Totten from me
PS

This etching and its accompanying documents are exactly the kind of soul and provenance we look for. A work of art that is not only beautiful to behold, but also carries a documented, human history.

Buy the R. Cavaller etching and original letters in the shop here → Coming soon