Inspired by antiquity, Norwegian folk art and craft and the Japonisme art movement, Norwegian artist Gerhard Munthe was one of the most ground-breaking and innovative artists of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Norse Saga Room at American Swedish Institute may be the last surviving example of Munthe’s interior designs, first created for the apartment of a Stockholm family, then exhibited at Sweden’s National History Museum and now installed at the American Swedish Institute. When you enter this room, you leave the 21st century behind and enter a world inhabited by heroic warriors, serpents and threatening trolls.   About the Author: Claire Selkurt, Ph.D., has had a lifelong interest in the art and design of the Nordic countries. In completion of her master’s degree in design at the University of Minnesota, Claire studied the transfer of material culture from Norway to the Luther Valley settlement in Wisconsin in the pre-Civil War period. Her doctoral research at the University of Minnesota took her to Copenhagen, where she examined the transition from Classicism to Functionalism in Danish furniture and silver design. Her more recent research and publications have concentrated on the impact of Scandinavian Modern design on American design during the post-World War II era.  Claire’s professional work has included teaching positions at the Minnesota State University, Mankato; the College of Visual Arts; and the University of St. Thomas. She has curated numerous exhibitions, including Swedish Life in the Twin Cities at the American Swedish Institute, which was formally opened by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Her gallery and exhibition work has included experience in commercial and nonprofit venues.