The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgThe Oldenborg Horn

The Oldenborg Horn

Legend has it that Count Otto, the first Count of Oldenborg, received the horn in 989, and it was handed to him by a maiden who offered him to quelch his thirst. He wisely discarded the fluid but kept the horn. However, the horn, made of silver and decorated with enamel, was made c. 1465. It was presumably a gift to the cathedral in Cologne from Christian I during his visit to Rome in 1474-75. After the reformation it came back into the possesion of the royal danish house of Oldenburg, and in 1690 Christian V had it moved from Oldenburg to Copenhagen.

Relations

Golden spoon

Golden spoon with Christian IV’s crowned monogram in red enamel. Made in Denmark, c. 1640.

Cup of birch-wood

Cup of birch-wood, with Christian V’s monogram. Made by Magnus Berg, 1690.

1575-1600

This period was not only the end of a century but also the last part of an period of prosperity. It was also a time of peace, with a pause in the otherwise regular wars with Sweden.