The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCastle historyInterior and objectsC Ivory and amberThe Water

The Water

‘The Water’, centrepiece of ivory, gilt bronze, silver, and glass.

Magnus Berg’s greatest work, made in 1708-23 but not assembled until after his death. The figures and reliefs depict episodes from classical mythology. They unite in an undulating movement that strives upwards towards perfection, as expressed in the relief of Venus’s heavenly love under the glass lid, which is crowned by a swan, symbolising Jesus.

Relations

Magnus Berg, 1718

The ivory carver Magnus Berg; portrait by Balthasar Denner, 1718-1719.

Cup of birch-wood

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

C Ivory and amber

In the cellar room furthest to the north about half of Rosenborg's 700 or so artefacts made of ivory and amber are displayed. They range in date from 1585 to1850.

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.

1700-1725

The 18th century was initiated with yet another war between Denmark and Sweden. For Denmark the war was brief, but for Sweden it was the beginning of the Great Nordic War, which Denmark became part of again from 1709.

Christian VI

Christian VI was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1730; son of Frederik IV and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. He was married to Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach in 1721. Father of Frederik V.