Craftmanship at the Royal Palace – 200 years of creations

It is in our nature to use our hands to make objects that are both useful and beautiful. According to Professor of Sociology Richard Sennett, craftsmanship is an enduring, basic human impulse. This is visible from a young age – how children make fantasy figures out of modelling clay or entire worlds in sand on the beach or out of snow in the winter.

The exhibition Craftsmanship at the Royal Palace – 200 years of creations highlights selected heritage crafts and tells how the objects at the Royal Palace were created and how they are still used and preserved to this very day. The exhibition includes such objects as the ermine robe first used during the coronation of Queen Louise in 1860, Queen Maud’s riding boots and saddle from the turn of the century, Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha’s Buick from 1939, King Harald and Queen Sonja’s Sami knives from the consecration tour in 1991–92, Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s 1960s handwoven dress and Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s bunad (Norwegian national costume) from 2019. Also on display is the richly gilded throne that Stortinget (Norwegian Parliament) has generously provided on loan to the exhibition.

The exhibition explores craftsmanship from the perspective of a trade, necessity, usefulness, beauty and tradition as communicated through objects. Our focus is on learning more about each of the crafts, the materials used and how hands, head and heart create unique objects for different uses. We have seen how the objects are created and who has created them. Was the object created for a special occasion or person? Did it have special significance? This work has been challenging at times, as not all of the objects have a known history. We have sought assistance from experts in the various crafts, who have provided us with valuable and new knowledge about the numerous objects on display at the exhibition. We wish to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has helped us on our journey!

(From the catalogue introduction)

Published for the exhibition
Craftmanship at the Royal Palace – 200 years of creations
29 January–17 September 2023
Queen Sonja Art Stable

The design project includes a main catalogue with softcover, a limited edition (30) with hardcover with unique binding material on every copy as well as promotional material and ads.

The Royal Collections
The Royal Court

© Det kongelige hoff/The Royal Court 2023
ISBN 978-82-8106-038-8
2023
20 x 25 cm
136 pages
Language: Norwegian/English

Curators of the exhibition and editors of the catalogue:
Silje Nome Schiander
Sandra Lorentzen

Texts by:
H.M. Queen Sonja
Gunhild Varvin, GV
Eivind Falk, Norsk håndverksinstitutt
Sandra Lorentzen, SL
Silje Nome Schiander, SNS
Øivind Möller Bakken, ØMB
Kaja Maria Ranveig Hjort, KH
Ingeborg Lønning, IL
Ingvar Strøm Torjuul, IST

Proofreading and translation:
Totaltekst

Design: Halvor Bodin
Repro: Halvor Bodin/Øivind Möller Bakken
Printer: TS trykk, Oslo
Bokbinder: Bokbinderiet Johnsen
Typography: ABC Arizona
Paper: MultiArt Silk, 170 g/m²,
Edixion, 150 g/m²
Paper, cover: Algro Design Advanced, 350 g/m²

Photography:
Øivind Möller Bakken,
De kongelige samlinger
Jan Haug, De kongelige samlinger
Jørgen Gomnæs
Ludwik Szacinsky de Ravics
Teigens fotoatelier
Kjartan Hauglid,
De kongelige samlinger
Berit Bjørnstad, VG
Marie Gleditsch, Oslo Museum
Sigurd Fandango
Det kongelige hoff
De kongelige samlinger
Severin Worm Pettersen
Per Løken/NTB
Lise Åserud/NTB
Peder O. Aune
Terje Heierstad/Stortinget
Mona Nordøy
NTB
Anna Riwkin, Moderna Museet
Annika Byrde/NTB
Johan Wallgren, Sörmlands museum
Anders Beer Wilse, Norsk Folkemuseum
Håkon Mosvold Larsen/NTB
Henriksen & Steen, Nasjonalbiblioteket
Johan Brun, Dagbladet
Norsk Folkemuseum
Hans Majestet Kong Haakon
Karl August Berg, Orkla Industrimuseum
Ukjent, Anno Domkirkeodden