Hi Everyone,
I would like to tell you about the fantastic exhibition in the beautiful
little fairytale castle of Rosenborg, here in Copenhagen. The exhibition has
been set up by Katia Johansen, who is the textile conservator at Rosenborg
and she has given us some absolute gems of exhibitions over the years.
Rosenborg's textile collections go back to the time of Christian 4th who was
crowned king in 1596 and ruled Denmark until his death in 1648. Most of you
have seen or read or bought the book about Chr. 4th's lace and Katia
Johansen was also involved with this book. Christian 4th had heard that his
counterpart king in Sweden had donated battle clothes to a permanent
collection. Not wanting to be outdone, Chr. then ordered his lace trimmed,
blood stained battle clothes from this Battle of Kolberger Heide in 1644 to
be kept, and this was the start of the Rosenborg textiles. This battle
against the Swedes ended in a stalemate.
The exhibition starts with Chr. 4th's mother, Queen Sophie, who was married
to Frederik 2nd. Here we "only"! have portraits and trimmings and the
exhibition continues, with dresses portraits and trimmings, in chronological
order up until the present day Queen of Denmark, Margrethe 2nd. It is
difficult to slect but I persaonally found the textile highlights to be:
1. a masterpiece of embroidery in the form of a silk fitted jacket from 1645
with gold lace trimming. The material is believed to have been a gift to CH.
4th from his sister, Anne, who married James 1st, the son of Mary Stuart.
This assumption arises from the heraldic symbols of the 3 ostrich feathers
(crown princes symbol) and a delfin (referring perhaps to the dauphin)
2. a Valencienne barbe from 1747, belonging to Queen Louise, who married
Frederik 5th (she was the daughter of George 2nd of GB)
3. silk Lille lace ca. 1755, incorporating the name Juliane Marie, who was
the 2nd wife of Frederik 5th.
4. an amazingly detailed portrait of the same queen by the artist Vigilius
Eriksen and you could make the lace on her dress from the portrait
5. the dress made for the crowning ceremony in 1840 of the last absolute
monarchs in Denmark- Christian 8th and his Queen Caroline Amalie. This
dress is believed to have been one of the most expensive dresses ever made
and ladies it is exquisite! It simply takes your breath away. The dress is
made of ca. 16 metres of gold embroidered silk satin, made by a Paris firm
called Popelin Ducarre. The dress is trimmed with a small white lace
trimming on the neck outline and also has a broad gold lace berthe with a
similar lace trimming on the sleeves. There is also a gold lace veil The
dress and lace trimmings cost the equivalent of 31 years wages for a
craftsman in the 1840!
4. and in complete contrast - a galla dress belonging to the present queen,
from 1987 designed by the Dane, Erik Mortensen, who worked for the house of
Balmain in Paris. The dress is made of black and black and white striped
silk with a bright green silk lining which is just visible on the skirt.
The exhibition is running until 13th June 2004, if any of you are planning a
trip to DK!!
There is a book about the exhibition(in Danish only at the moment)
"Dronningens Kjole" by Katia Johansen, but another book published in English
for a previous exhibition in 1990 "Kongelige Kjoler" by Katia Johansen is
well worth buying.
I could go on for ages but take a look at the homepage of Rosenborg, if you
have a minute.
http://www.rosenborg-slot.dk/asp/menu/menupages/frontpage_2.asp?countryID=2
and if anyone is interested this is the homepage of the Danish royal family
where you also can find the latest information about the forthcoming wedding
on the 14th May, of crown price Frederik to Mary Donaldson of Australia.
There is another royal gown in the making and we are all waiting with baited
breath to see it.
http://www.kongehuset.dk/
Best wishes and keep bobbin' along
from Avril in a cold Denmark where the aconites and snow drops are fighting
a loosing battle against more snow today!
--
And on the 8th day, God created golf courses and lacemakers........
Avril Bayne
Denmark
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