Norse Designs in Poulsbo WA

Poulsbo, WA adapted a Norse great hall design for its public library. One outside corridor is
decorated with carved, wooden panels of gripping beasts. The gripping beast occurs as a motif throughout the library.


This style is known as Urnes, the latest of the Norse art styles from around 1050 to 1120 AD. The Urnes gripping beast motifs are slim, stylized, and usually tightly woven. The best example is the wooden Urnes stave church in Norway.

Urnes photos are from Wikipedia.