Hans Lorenzen

Hans Lorenzen was born on September 27, 1862 in Stubbæk and went to Ballum in West Jutland where he was employed as a teacher at Bådsbøl's school. From 1890 to 1909 he was a senior master at the same place.
He was dismissed without a pension by the Prussian state because he was a tireless advocate of Danish patriotism.
From 1909 to his death in 1956 Hans Lorenzen was a farmer. He was a county councillor, a member of the parish council, the founder and head of the savings bank in Ballum, deputy chairman of the temperance society of North Slesvig etc.

Hansigne Lorenzen

Hansigne Lorenzen was born in 1870 as a daughter of the senior master in Ballum, Jens Andersen Jensen. In 1890 she married Hans Lorenzen and in the marriage she had 5 children.
In 1905 she made her debut as an author under the pseudonym Sven Tange with the book "Der kæmper et folk". Later she wrote a number of novels and collections of poems, which all strongly contributed to strengthen the Danish language and culture south of the Kongeåen during the last difficult years of exile. Her last book "Di gammel Søkaptejner" pictures everyday life of the people of West Slesvig, written in verse in the dialect of West Slesvig (1945).
Hansigne Lorenzen worked to save patterns and lace from being sent to Berlin during the time before 1920 and, with the support from women in Denmark, she worked to revive "The Laces from Tønder". By means of a monopoly "Det Tønderske kniplingsdepot" for which queen Alexandrine was a patroness, and the help of lace- making women in the area, she tried to revive this handicraft. She was given "The Royal Gold Medal Award" for her efforts. Hansigne Lorenzen died in 1952.

Lorenzen's farm

Was built around 1870 by Hans Nicolajsen in a style unusual to the parish. Hans and Hansigne acquired the farm I 1920.
The two-storey farmhouse has 6 rooms en suite on the south facing ground floor. In the hall (Æ pissel), which traditionally would be found in any farm in the west area, you will find cupboards, chests (South Jutland), Dutch and English plaques from about 1700. The red room holds paintings of Hans and Hansigne Lorenzen, and it is furnished in the style of Christian VIII.
The yellow room, the garden room, connects the house with the large garden. Here you will find paintings by Carl Tønder, depicting motives from the area.
The drawing room is painted like the Danish flag and holds portraits of Danish kings and memories from the time before 1920.
The blue room is the dining room.
On the first floor you will find the lace room and the alcove room. The lace room was used as a classroom for the students involved in the courses of lace-making arranged by Hansigne Lorenzen. The room is now used to exhibit the lace collection.
The alcove room holds an original milieu from Rømø, including alcoves etc.

Cathrine Lorenzen

Was born in Ballum in 1903. Through her mothers work and studies all over Europe she acquired great knowledge about the history of lace-making.
In 1926 Cathrine Lorenzen made preparations for the actual teaching of this old handicraft. In 1927 Cathrine Lorenzen stated teaching students, and she initiated the first of several three months' courses of lace- making at the Museum of Decorative arts in Copenhagen. In 1929 the Tønder Knipleskole (the School of Lace-making in Tønder) was founded in Østergade, Tønder. In the following years a succession of courses were held in the Tønder area and the rest of the country. In 1940 the Tønder Knipleskole was moved to Richten's house in Vestergade. After the war in 1945 it was moved to Lorenzen's farm in Ballum.
In 1956 Cathrine Lorenzen took over the farm. At her death in 1971 she willed the farm to her brothers and sisters and to a board of trustees.
Since 1971 the family has opened the school and the farm to the public every July. Weekend courses in Tønder lace-making are held at the farm every spring and autumn.

The history of the Tønder laces

cannot be told in few words. From the 16th to the 20th century laces have been made in the Tønder style in our area. At Lorenzen's farm you will find a large collection left by Cathrine Lorenzen. Not only patterns, but collars, bonnets, veils, table linen and bed linen which belongs to the family are to be found in the exhibition.
Also tools, lace pillows with the old lace bobbins, genuine Belgian linen thread, patterns etc. will fascinate the connoisseur of lace-making.
A beautiful sample of the lace the women of South Jutland made for Queen Alexandrine in the year of the reunion, which was later used in the wedding dress worn by Queen Margrethe II, is also on display.

Strandasters.