Camera: Mamiya 645AF     Lens: Mamiya Sekor ULD 4.5/105-210mm AF     Film: Agfa RS200     Date: 25.06.1991

The Henjasand Houses, Sogn Folkemuseum, Sogndal, Norway

This sea-crofter's place was originally located by the fjord at Hermansverk in Leikanger as one of several smallholdings until it was moved to the Folkemuseum in 1980. The exact age of the cottage is uncertain, but the year 1784 is carved into the crossbeam. The house, cowshed and boathouse are painted with a permeable red paint commonly used on wooden structures in Scandinavia.

Starting in the 16^th century, following hundreds of years of mining in Falun (Sweden), large piles of residual product were deposited above ground in the vicinity of the mines. The mine’s tailings and slag were rich in copper, limonite, silicic acid, and zinc. When the sludge was heated for a few hours and then mixed with linseed oil and rye flour, it was found to form an excellent anti-weathering paint, which until today is called “falu red” or “falun red”.