Kælder

B Weapons and wine barrels

Rosenborg’s weapon collection was founded by Frederik III and was kept in two of the uppermost rooms of the Great Tower. Christian V, who had a keen interest in weapons, had the collection enlarged and re-displayed. He took care to ensure that the weapons he had used in the Scanian War of 1675-79 were preserved. In the 18th century most of Rosenborg’s weapons were transferred to Christiansborg, the new residence of the absolute monarchs. There they were destroyed by fire in 1794. What can be seen today is only a fragment of the splendour of the past.

The showcase still contains evidence of the component sections of the collection, however. On the left are the ceremonial weapons. They combined the latest techniques with superb craftsmanship in precious materials and were coveted princely gifts. As a rule the wealth of decorative detail included inscriptions naming both donor and recipient.

Then there are the carousel weapons. Carousel riding became fashionable at the court of Louis XIV in the 1660s and rapidly won international popularity. Carousel riding is a form of tournament in which the aim is to hit diverse objects with various weapons. In this way the prince had the opportunity both to display his equestrian abilities and to make use of splendid weapons and fanciful costumes. Alongside the carousel weapons are the war weapons, several of which were used by Christian V.

Rosenborg’s weapon collection was founded by Frederik III and was kept in two of the uppermost rooms of the Great Tower. Christian V, who had a keen interest in weapons, had the collection enlarged and re-displayed. He took care to ensure that the weapons he had used in the Scanian War of 1675-79 were preserved. In the 18th century most of Rosenborg’s weapons were transferred to Christiansborg, the new residence of the absolute monarchs. There they were destroyed by fire in 1794. What can be seen today is only a fragment of the splendour of the past.

The showcase still contains evidence of the component sections of the collection, however. On the left are the ceremonial weapons. They combined the latest techniques with superb craftsmanship in precious materials and were coveted princely gifts. As a rule the wealth of decorative detail included inscriptions naming both donor and recipient.

Then there are the carousel weapons. Carousel riding became fashionable at the court of Louis XIV in the 1660s and rapidly won international popularity. Carousel riding is a form of tournament in which the aim is to hit diverse objects with various weapons. In this way the prince had the opportunity both to display his equestrian abilities and to make use of splendid weapons and fanciful costumes. Alongside the carousel weapons are the war weapons, several of which were used by Christian V.

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Objects in this room
2501-2520
Ceremonial arms
2501. Pair of wheel-lock guns. On the barrel the mark C.L., bagpipes and 1596. Present to Christian IV on his coronation in 1596 from Hieronymus Schlick, Count of Bassano in Bohemia. Saxony 1596.
2502. Two wheel-lock rifles. The stock marked: GERDT HENNYGES ANNO 1652.Belonged to the Governor of Norway, Ove Bielke. Germany 1652.
2503. Wheel-lock key. 19th century?
2504. Short wheel-lock rifle. The stock marked: HK (possibly Hans Kaluga) and dated 1632. Teschen, Silesia?
2505. Wheel-lock gun. The barrel marked: SR. with Frederik II’s monogram and the Danish coat of arms. Saxony, c. 1585.
2506. Wheel-lock rifle. The barrel has a mark attributed to Max Wenger. The stock has a crowned F, presumably for Crown Prince Frederik (III). The plaque with the date of 1585 has been added later. On the stock is a spectacle lense used as a sight.
2507. Pair of wheel-lock rifles with Frederik III’s crowned monogram. Poland? 1655.
2508. Wheel-lock gun. The barrel stamped Søren Rasmussen, Ålborg. On the lock the crowned monogram of Christian, the Prince Elect. Ålborg, 1635.
2509. Two flint-lock rifles, marked: Lars Berrig Trundheim. On the stock added scenes and inscriptions: souvenirs of Christian V’s journey to Norway in 1685. Probably a gift to the King on his return from Norway. Trondheim c. 1675-80 and 1685.
2510. Pair of wheel-lock pistols, the locks marked: FP, for Francois Poumerol, Paris? French, c. 1615. On the ferrules of the ramrods the initials A and C, probably for Anna Cathrine and Christian IV.
2515-2525
“Carrousel” riding
2515. Christian V’s breastplate and helmet, of gilt brass. Reported to have been used in “carrousel” riding in 1680.
2516. Christian V aiming his pistol at a Moor’s head. Part of a series of paintings with “carrousel” themes, see no. 770. c. 1680.
2517. Tournament rapier with gilded hilt. Blade marked:GW KW. Used by Christian V at the carrousel at Gottorp castle in 1686.
2518. Dress rapier with the hilt in form of a sitting lion. Hilt with the stamp of Johannes Wundes, Solingen, Germany, c. 1640.
2519. Dress rapier with silver hilt in the form of Hercules with the globe. Blade marked: IOHANES TESCHE ME FECIT SOLINGEN. Germany c. 1650.
2520. Pair of flint-lock pistols. Locks marked: I. DES GRANGES A PARIS. With Frederik III’s crowned monogram. The many inlaid stones indicate that the pistols were used in “carrousel” riding. Paris, c. 1670.
2521. Pair of flint-lock pistols, locks marked: FRIDERICH OSTERMAN COPENHAGEN. With Christian V’s monogram. Used by the King in “carrousel” riding. Copenhagen c. 1685.
2522. Pair of flint-lock pistols, locks marked: THVRAINE A PARIS. On the butt, Crown Prince Christian (V)’s monogram. Paris, ca. 1665.
2523. Pair of flint-lock pistols with ivory stocks, the locks marked: De la Haye, Maestricht. Netherlands, c. 1675. With King Frederik IV’s monogram. Acquired by the King in 1704.
2524. Pair of flint-lock pistols, locks marked: V. MARR A COPENHAGEN. With Christian VI’s monogram. Mountings of mother-of-pearl. Acquired by Christian VI in 1733 for 100 rigsdaler. Copenhagen.
2525. Pair of flint-lock pistols, locks marked: VALENTIN MARR A COPENHAGEN. Stocks of walnut with mountings of tombac. Stamped with the crowned monogram of Frederik V. Delivered to the King in 1756. Copenhagen.
2530-2542
Warfare
2530. Wheel-lock rifle. With Crown Prince Christian (V)’s monogram. Possibly made by Paul Nielsen Norman, Copenhagen, c. 1665.
2531. Flint-lock rifle. Lock marked: PAVL NIELSEN NORMAN. With Christian V’s monogram. Used by the King in the Scanian war. Copenhagen c. 1670-75.
2532. Flint-lock musketon. The lock marked: THURAINE A PARIS. Used by Christian V during the Scanian war at siege of Wismar in 1675. Paris, c. 1675.
2533. Short flint-lock rifle, stamped Lorenz Helbe, Strassburg. Used by Christian V during the Scanian war in the battle of Lund in 1676. Strasbourg c. 1660.
2534. Short flint-lock rifle, stamped Heinrich Kappel. Copy made as replacement for the rifle Christian V lost in the battle of Lund in 1676. Copenhagen c. 1680.
2535. Pair of wheel-lock pistols, the barrels marked: LAZARINO COMINAZZO. With Crown Prince Christian (V)’s monogram. Probably made by Paul Nielsen Norman, Copenhagen c. 1665.
2536. Pair of wheel-lock pistols. Attributed to Paul Nielsen Norman. With Crown Prince Christian (V)’s crowned monogram. Denmark? c. 1665-70.
2537. Pair of wheel-lock pistols, the barrels with the mark of Reinert Pasquier, Elsinore, 1623. With the monogram of Christian, the Prince Elect.
2538. Pair of short flint-lock rifles. The locks marked FRIEDRICH OSTERMANN COPENHAGEN. With Frederik IV’s monogram. Acquired 1715 and used by the King when he travelled by carriage. Copenhagen 1715.
2539. War hammer, from Christian V’s effects. c. 1575.
2540. Gustavus II Adolphus’s rapier. Blade stamped by Johann Tesche, Solingen. Probably used by the Swedish King during the 30 Years’ War in Germany. Netherlands c. 1620-30.
2541. Rapier with chiselled steel hilt. Blade (from Solingen) with engraved portraits of contemporary princes. Officer’s rapier from the 30 Years’ War, possibly German, c. 1640.
2542. Hunting rapier. On the hilt, Frederik II’s crowned monogram and motto, MHZGA (Mein Hoffnug Zu Gott Allein), with the date 1584. (cf. no. 2567.) Blade marked: ANDREIS MVNSTEN from Solingen.
2550-2559
The hunt
2550. Antlers of a wounded stag to which, in 1698, Christian V gave the death blow. In its fall it knocked the King over and injured him.
2551. Wheel-lock magazine rifle, the barrel marked: Peter Kalthoff. The magazine system was planned as early as 1641, but it never actually functioned as intended. Frederik III’s crowned monogram added later. Flensburg, 1646.
2552. Flint-lock gun. The barrel stamped with the mark of Lazarino Cominazzo from Brescia, Italy. Belonged to Frederik III’s Queen Sophie Amalie, who was an enthusiastic huntswoman.
2553. Flint-lock gun. The lock marked: FRIDERICH OSTERMAN, COPENHAGEN. With Fredeik IV’s crowned monogram, Copenhagen 1700.
2554. Flint-lock rifle, marked: JOHAN WINTER COPENHAGEN. With Frederik IV’s crowned monogram. Probably a piece created to qualify the maker as royal armourer. Copenhagen c. 1720.
2555. Flint-lock gun, marked: V. MARR A COPENH. The barrel bears the stamp of Juan Santos, Madrid. Christian VI’s crowned monogram on the butt. Probably a gift from Queen Sophie Magdalene. Copenhagen 1742. Forms a pair with 2558.
2556. Flint-lock rifle, marked: I.M. Hoffmann a Suhl 1709. This little weapon was originally a gift to 10-year-old Crown Prince Christian (VI). Around 1730 a new lock was put on the rifle by A. Gebauer, and at the same time a cover of leather and velvet was mounted on the stock. The rifle was then used by Queen Sophie Magdalene.
2557. Flint-lock rifle. The lock marked: VALENTIN MARR COPENHAGEN. With Christian VI’s crowned monogram. Later equipped with a stock-cover of velvet, possibly when it was given to the King’s daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Louise. Copenhagen 1742.
2558. Flint-lock gun, marked: V. MARR A COPENH. The barrel bears the stamp of Juan Santos, Madrid. On the stock Sophie Magdalene’s crowned monogram. Probably a gift from Christian VI. Copenhagen 1742. Forms a pair with 2555.
2559. Double-barrelled flint-lock gun. The lock marked VALENTIN MARR A COPENHAGEN. With Crown Prince Frederik (V)’s crowned monogram. Copenhagen c. 1740.
2560-2571
The hunt
2560. Flint-lock gun. The lock marked VALENTIN MARR COPENHAGEN. With Crown Prince Frederik (V)’s crowned monogram. A serviceable hunting weapon, later used by both Christian VII and Frederik VI. Copenhagen c. 1745.
2561. Flint-lock gun, marked: VALENTIN MARR A COPENHAGEN. With Christian VII’s crowned monogram. Bought in 1767 for Christian VII for 46 rigsdaler. Copenhagen 1766.
2562. Percussion-lock gun. Marked: PLÖSE A NEU-STRELITZ. Marked with the crown CCMS for Princess Caroline Charlotte (Mariane) of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She was married to Crown Prince Frederik (VII) from 1841 to 1844. No doubt a gift from the Princess to the Crown Prince, who was a keen huntsman. Neu-Strelitz c. 1841.
2563. Crossbow with steel bow. With Frederik III’s crowned monogram. Denmark? c. 1650.
2564. Crossbow with steel bow. Probably a gift from Lord Chamberlain Just Høeg to Christian V. Denmark? c. 1670.
2565. Two cranequins. Germany c. 1575.
2566. Flint-lock rifle with dog lock. The lock marked: Heinrich Kappel. Copenhagen c. 1690-95.
2567. Hunting sword. Frederik II’s crowned monogram on the hilt with the date 1585. Associated with nos. 2568, 2569 and 2542.
2568. Hunting sword with Frederik II’s crowned monogram and 1586 (cf. no. 2567). Denmark ?
2569. Hunting sword with the date 1585 (cf. no. 2567).
2570. Hunting sword with rhinoceros-horn hilt, carved in the form of fighting animals by Joh. Mich. Maucher. German, c. 1650. Worn by Crown Prince Christian (V) ?
2571. Hunting sword. Gift from the French King Louis XV to Christian VII when he visited Paris in 1768. Made in Paris.
2580-2590
Children
The royal princes were brought up from an early age to use rapiers and firearms. They used actual weapons for training, but in specially constructed scaled-down editions.
2580. Flint-lock gun. The lock marked: FRIDERICH OSTERMAN COPENHAGEN. Marked with a crowned C. Crown Prince Christian (VI)’s first firearm. Copenhagen c. 1710.
2582. Child’s sword, Scotland c. 1825.
2584. Models of N.J. Løbnitz’s weapons with their newly-invented loading system. The weapons were introduced for use in the Danish army in 1841, but there were so many problems with the loading system that they were rapidly abandoned. The models were made for Christian VIII in c. 1840, probably in connection with a request to initiate production in full scale. Copenhagen c. 1840.
2590. War game “Romans and Africans”. A total of 250 silver gilt figurines made for Frederik V as Crown Prince and King. 109 of the figurines were supplied by Christopher Fabritius (II) as a supplement to an older set of chess-pieces made in Augsburg in c. 1700 and given by Frederik IV to Princess Sophie Hedevig. The war game was part of the Crown Prince’s military upbringing; the figures were used for learning about strategy and planning.
2601-2607
Oldenburg
The Oldenborg royal dynasty in Denmark originally came from the County of Oldenburg in northwest Germany. When the younger line of the family died out with Anthon Günther in 1667, many objects – e.g. from the Oldenborg armoury – were inherited by the Danish King Christian V.
2601. One of the “Oldenborg rapiers” with chased silver hilt. North German, 1576.
2602. Count Anthon Günther’s rapier. The blade marked: CLEMENS HORN ME FECIT SOLINGEN. Typical military weapon from the 30 Year’s War. Germany or Netherlands, c. 1620-30.
2603. Pair of stirrups and curb bit for “Kranich”, a horse-prodigy. c. 1660.
2604. Spurs of gilded iron. Denmark? c. 1650.
2605. Count Anthon Günther riding Kranich, the horse-prodigy. Copy from earlier edition. Gouache on paper. A. Thornborg ?, Copenhagen c. 1765.
2606. Medal with Kranich, the horse-prodigy. Silver. The horse’s talents are shown here: it can tell the time, it can jump through barrel hoops and it can read Latin! German, c. 1660?
2607. Kranich, the horse-prodigy. Painting by Peter de Saint-Simon, 1644?
2610-2615
Dress weapons
Any prince or nobleman would always wear a rapier or a sword. Together with the elaborate garments worn it was possible to carry weapons that were just a richly decorated. In time the decorative function of these weapons became their chief characteristic.
2610. Prince Carl’s dress sword with gilt hilt set with half pearls. Blade marked “ZZ” and “Ziegler”. c. 1720.
2611. Dress sword as above. From Frederik IV’s estate.
2612. Frederik IV’s dress rapier with hilt of gold and agate. The hilt bent when an explosion during cannon-casting at the foundry in 1729 knocked the King over. Possibly Danish, c. 1720.
2613. Frederik III’s rapier. Made in Broby, 1648.
2614. Frederik III’s rapier. Iron hilt with silver inlay. On the blade: Peter Munich me fecit Solinge. Solingen c. 1650.
2615. Dress rapier. The blade marked: Coulaux & Klingenthal, with a crowned FCC for Crown Prince Frederik (VII). The rapier was designed by Rudolphi, who came from Denmark and found an innovative artistic milieu in France. Gift from Christian VIII to his son Crown Prince Frederik (VII). Paris c. 1840-48.
2680-2690
2680. “Three-pot” glass on which Frederik II and 18 of his political allies have scratched their initials and mottoes during a meeting in Oldenburg in 1568. The glass, which can hold three “pots” of beer, is meant as a communal glass for a shared toast. Normally the glass would be broken when the toast had been drunk. This one was preserved as a political memento. The inscription at the bottom was added in 1603, possibly in connection with the baptism of Prince Christian, the Prince Elect.
2681. Lidded goblet with parrots and flowers, brought to Denmark from Venice by Frederik IV in 1709. The form is essentially that of the Renaissance funnel-shaped wine-glass, extended here with stem and lid, allowing the glass-blower to display his dazzling skill.
2682. The tall flute became the favourite Baroque glass type, here with diamond-engraved putti and vines, together with a verse warning about the dangers of intoxication. Netherlands c.1670?
2683. Lidded goblet of chalk glass, which is well-suited to bevelling and to brilliant or matt engraving. The goblet, which is of impressive size, is assembled by means of a screw thread in the base. Bohemia c.1700.
2684. – 2685. Water fountain and bowl, silver, both with the marks of Jens Olsen Førslev, Copenhagen, 1744. Intended for rinsing guests’ glasses when the wine changed with the progression of the menu.
2686. Wine cooler of black limestone with corals.
2687. Crown goblet, blown at the glass factory at Nøstetangen, which was given the exclusive right to produce glass in Denmark-Norway in 1741. Engraved with Christian VI’s monogram and coat of arms in Copenhagen before 1744.
2688. Carafe, wine- and water-glass for one place-setting. This type of place-setting, used by the Court, was made at Nøstetangen from c.1750. The monogram LA belongs to Princess Louise Au¬gusta, Frederik VI’s sister.
2689. Bottles containing Rosenborg wine.
2690. Menu-card for the Royal New Year Banquet in 1889, including a glass of the Rosenborg wine.