An old Danish mangle board was the inspiration for this design. Here we have the scenes in a couple’s life, the meeting, the marriage, the family, and the golden years. Somewhere I read that this theme of decoration began as an old German print, showing the stages of life from the cradle to the grave. We have seen several Swedish wall paintings with this theme. The color scheme was inspired by one of the restored homes, now relocated at Friesland Museum, just outside Copenhagen. The mangle board is a piece of wood with a handle. It was accompanied by a wooden roller and together they were used to smooth clothing, pieces of linen etc. It was often a love gift from a young gentleman to a young woman who he deemed “desirable.”