Travel – Copenhagen National Museum

Posted by jerry on August 1st, 2005 — Posted in Travel

The National Museum in Copenhagen is home to an amazing array of Viking, pre-Viking and Roman artefacts, as well as some fabulous Baroque-period interiors. It is just a short walk from the Danish Houses of Parliament.

I was struck by the quantity of viking artefacts, including quite a collection of musical instruments, such as the tuba-style horns – including one with a disk insert in the mouthpiece designed to be blown with circular breathing – like the Australian didjeridoo.

The bronze-age cart is remarkably well preserved, and clearly represents regal transport of its era

Danish Bronze Age cart from Copenhagen Danish bronze-age cart

The Danish wetlands and bogs preserved a lot of otherwise perishable items, such as these examples of bronze age clothing

Danish bronze age clothing

Bronze age dress, Denmark

recreation of bronze age woman\'s dress

It is the small, domestic things that really take the eye though, like this tea-spoon –

bronze age tea spoon

or the Roman glassware – of considerable delicacy – and other tableware such as this drinking horn

Roman drink horn

And Copenhagen is also home to Michaelangelo’s second David – yes it was cast by Michaelangelo in florence, but brought to copenhagen in 1870 by Carlsberg Brewery, and today it stands next to the copenhagen docks in a wonderful sculpture museum

Michaelangelo David

But perhaps the most intriguing item in the national museum is this table with its anamorphic painting of King Frederik III and his Queen – which can be seen as reflections in the glass cylinder. It was bought in 1656 from the painter Gerdt Dittmers of Hamburg. Could this be an early form of image encryption?

anamorphic painting on table - Copenhagen

Extraordinary isn’t it! I then paid DKR24 for a mineral water at the cafe and bought a book from the museum shop on the collections.

cheers
Jerry

4 Comments

Comment by Linda Head

Hi Jerry,
I particularly liked – in fact _loved_ the glass cylinder reflecting the king/queen, although I couldn’t quite distinguish the king’s image.
I’m going away now to look up anamorphic as I’m not sure what it means:) Haven’t been to Copehagan yet,although have briefly visited Denmark. Best wishes### Linda

Posted on August 4, 2005 at 8:33 am

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[…] 005 at 6:53 am A few weeks ago Jerry was in Copenhagen and he paid a trip to the National Museum and has recently loaded photographs of bronze age clothin […]

Posted on August 5, 2005 at 6:54 am

Comment by Sandra

I loved this museum too! Was there around the same time you were. My son loved the Viking helms, artifacts, etc and the children’s wing is great fun.

Posted on October 10, 2005 at 10:30 pm

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[…] 5, 2005 Bronze age clothing Posted by sharonb under Collections , Exhibition , Historical textiles   A few weeks agoJerry was in Copenhagen and he paid a trip to the National Museum and has recently loaded photographs of bronze age clothing that were preserved in Danish bogs. I think some of the historical costumers will be interested to see these images.   […]

Posted on October 6, 2007 at 5:02 pm

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