The Royal Danish CollectionAmalienborgThe kingsChristian VIChristian VI's robe

Christian VI’s robe

Christian 6th had his expensive clothes made of foreign fabrics, even though he passed laws forbidding others to use imported fabrics and lace. He wore this suit of deep violet silk and silver brocade at the wedding of his son, Crown Prince Frederik (5th) in 1743. It is embroidered at the edges with gold, very elegant and modern. It was probably made by his tailor, J.P. Becker, and the embroidery would have been done by his embroiderer, Jacob Harras, who embroidered many suits for both the King and the Crown Prince. This suit is very worn, and there are many repairs, especially over the shoulders. The coat, called a frock coat, is like others from this period now very fragile because it was tightly fitted over the back and weighted down by the massive gold embroidery. The Danish court was not rich after Christian 6th‘s building projects and when Frederik 5th became king, he had many of his father’s suits remade for himself, to save money. Perhaps this suit was one of them.

Relations

Small weapons

Flint-lock gun, Copenhagen around 1710. The lock is engraved with the signature Friderich Osterman Copenhagen, along with a C, representing Christian VI, as they were his first weapons.

Lorenz Spengler

The ivory turner Lorenz Spengler, from Schaffhausen in Switzerland, arrived in Copenhagen in 1743. He was made court turner and taught most of the Royal family, among them Christian VI and later Frederik V, in the art of turning.

Magnus Berg

Magnus Berg, painter and ivory-cutter, was born in Romsdalen in Norway. He went to Copenhagen in 1690, where he was introduced to Christian V.

Anna Sophie

Anna Sophie became Queen of Denmark in 1721. She was the daughter of the Great Chancellor Conrad Reventlow, and was married to Frederik IV. Anna Sophie met the King at a masked ball in 1711 and fell in love with him.

Adam Gottlob Moltke

Adam Gottlob Moltke, Count and Lord Stewart, was a member of an old noble family. When he was twelve years old he became page to Crown Prince Christian (VI). He later became the educator of Christian VI's son Frederik (V), who became closely attached to him.

Sophie Hedevig

Princess Sophie Hedevig was the daughter of Christian V and Charlotte Amalie. She was the sister of Frederik IV.

Sophie Magdalene

Sophie Magdalene became Queen of Denmark in 1730. She was the daughter of Margrave Christian Heinrich of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. In 1721 she was married to Prince Christian (VI). She was the mother of Frederik V.

Louise

Louise became Queen of Denmark in 1699. She was the daughter of Gustavus Adolf of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. In 1695 she was married to Crown Prince Frederik (IV) and together they had the son Christian (VI).