The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCastle historyInterior and objects17 Christian VIII's RoomMantelpiece clock

Mantelpiece clock

Mantelpiece clock with bronze statuette of Christian VIII. Made by A. & W. Jacobsen. Equestrian statuettes were the typical symbol for absolute monarchs hereby showing prestige and power, this clock, however, portrays King Christian VIII as an enlightened ruler sorrounded by paper. As the last coronated king in danish history he falls into a general european trend, as he was interested in arts and other cultural subjects due to his excellent education.

He likewise falls into a trend when he supposedly imposed his son and successor Frederik VII that he should introduce the first constitution to the danish people. The rather harmonious crossover to parliamentarism from absolute monarchy is said to be very typical of the danish state of mind, tending to stay away from radical decisions, to a certain degree of course.

Relations

Frederik VII as a child

Frederik VII as a child. Modelled by Bertel Thorvaldsen 1820, carved in marble 1825.

Mahogany desk

Mahogany desk with gilded bronze fittings from Christian VIII’s study at Amalienborg.

Christian VIII, 1881

Christian VIII at his desk in his study at Amalienborg. Drawing by Chr. Hetsch, 1881.

Christian VIII, 1831

Christian VIII. Painted by L. Aumont, 1831.

Astronomical clock

A magnificent example of an astronomical clock, with a carillon and moveable figures, made by the Swiss watchmaker Isaac Habrecht in 1594. Habrecht was one of the main figures behind the famous cathedral in Strasbourg, where he spent most of his life. The clock which stands at Rosenborg was constructed in part as a replica of it — though on a smaller scale, since the astronomical clock in Strasbourg was among the world’s biggest, before it was rebuilt and became unrecognisable. That the clock is astronomical means that apart from the time it also shows the days of the week, months, years, and lunar phases. The clock has an hour hand to show the time for both the 12 and 24 hour clocks, but no minute hand, as the technology wasn’t advanced enough for this until the introduction of the pendulum. As a reminder of the cycle of life and the inevitability of death, the four ages of man (childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age) are depicted around the clock’s quarter hour hand, just as it is death who rings the bells of the carillon. There is also a weekly calendar, symbolised by the seven gods who have lent their names to the days of the week. The melody played by the carillon is a recreation of a melody from Habrecht’s time, since we do not know how the original sounded. The clock was never in Christian IV’s possession, being made for the Cabinet of Curiosities at Gottorf in 1764 on the orders of Frederik IV. That the relocation was possible was because Frederik IV had captured Gottorf Castle in 1713 during a military operation in the Great Northern War (1700-1721). After capturing it, the king ordered that spoils of war, in this case the art collection, should be moved from Schleswig to Copenhagen. The relocation was made in several rounds, and it wasn’t until many years after Frederik IV’s death that the clock reached its destination. At first the clock was placed in Christiansborg Palace, before being sold in several parts, and it wasn’t until 1846 that Rosenborg was able to purchase and reassemble the clock.

Caroline Amalie

Caroline Amalie became Queen of Denmark in 1839. She was the daughter of Duke Friedrich Christian of Augustenborg and Princess Louise Augusta. In 1815 she married Prince Christian Frederik, later King Christian VIII.

1825-1850

The years towards the middle of the 19th century became increasingly marked by the national conflict between the Danes and Germans in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. It culminated in the Three Years' War, or the First Schleswig War in 1848-51.

Christian VIII

Christian VIII was the King of Denmark from 1839. His mother was Sophie Frederikke, wife of Christian VII's brother Prince Frederik, the Heir Presumptive.