National Museum of Denmark (Viking Antiquities)
Join me in Copenhagen, Denmark
10 Must-see objects.
A visit with your own art historian, flying in for you.
Join me for a visit to the National Museum of Denmark for Viking antiquities, in Copenhagen. I will be your private professore, travelling in from Amsterdam, Holland specially for you. Tour by Drs Kees Kaldenbach, a professional Art History scholar with excellent teaching skills. Specialist in Fine art and Design, Architecture and History. VIP entry. Entry best at from 9 or 10AM.
I have visited the Viking museums in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. This one in Copenhagen, I gather, is the very best.
National Museum. Model of Gokstad Viking ship
In 1816, researcher C. J. Thomsen was appointed as its critical and scientific caretaker. After three years,registration and sorting of the antiquities he succeeded in presenting his “Oldsagskabinettet” to visitors, for whom he was a tireless guide. By 1824 a new art museum opened, where all prehistoric – Danish and classic – objects all ethnographic and historical objects were stored and exhibited. In 1832 antiquities were moved to bigger and better premises at Christiansborg. Shortly after the new Constitution in 1849 when the king’s collections were transferred to the state, they decided to bring it all together in the Prince’s Palace.
After that, prehistoric collection grew rapidly. Interest in the national past awakened in wider circles. In the late 1830s he was granted an Oldsagskabinettet room at Christiansborg castle. 1844 they separated the Danish antiquities from the Art Museum and these were incorporated in Thomsen’s collection, and in 1845 were approximately 10,000 in number.
This museum now exhibits objects from 14,000 years of Danish history, and is very well designed in its exhibition halls. Variety of areas, from the Ice Age, Vikings, Middle Ages. Also Ethnographic / Anthropology collections from cold Greenland. There is an eerie Egtved girl in a tree bough coffin, from the late Bronze Age, preserved due to acidity in the soil.
Rune signs. Can be read with the FUTHARK Rune Alphabet.
Trundholm Sun Chariot, Grave gift to a great leader.
Gundestrup cauldron, one of the most important Viking objects in the world. Repousse metalwork.
These are Lurs, big curved trumpets for blowing in official ceremonies. Put into bogs to placate the Gods.
Live by the sword, die by the sword. As in the TV-series Vikings, Ragnar Lodbrok.
Rebuilt wagon, full size. The ancient parts came from a grave filled with earthly goods.
Please note, this is a high level offer. Practicalities: I live in Amsterdam, Holland and do NOT run a travel agency. I do however provide Fabulous international museum tours.
The plan is that you contract me for one or more days as your private ‘Professore’ and offer full transport to that city, plus hotel accommodation in the same place you will stay. We will spend quality time together in mornings and early afternoons.
Tour by professional Art History scholar with excellent teaching skills. Specialist in Fine art and Design, Architecture and History. VIP entry.
Drs Kees Kaldenbach: „…he is wildly overqualified to be a guide . That is his secret… Trust me on this.” Gabe. Statement made February, 2017.
Overview of International tours (outside Holland).
Business card. The logo refers to Vermeer.