The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgDirich Fyring

Dirich Fyring

The goldsmith Dirich Fyring arrived in Odense in the late 16th century. In 1581 he went into the service of Frederik II. In the years before 1595 he executed several works in silver for the King, amongst these; silver trumpets, a number of gold chains and portrait enamels in gold. He also mounted diamonds, rubies, sapphires and executed enamel works.

In 1596 he was assigned to make Christian IV’s crown. This is the only work by him known to have been preserved, and it is a major work in European goldsmith’s art from the Renaissance period, with its richly variegated ornamentations and beautifully modelled figures. In 1597 he received gold for a piece of jewellery with a large sapphire – perhaps the one now placed in Christian V’s crown – together with some gold rings for the King’s pearled horse blanket.

Fyring recieved money in connection with the crowning of Christian IV’s Queen Anna Cathrine in 1599. It may have been payment for the Queen’s Crown. He died in 1603 in Copenhagen.

 

Relations

Christian IV's crown

Christian IV's crown, made 1595-1596 by Dirich Fyring in Odense.

H The Treasury

The most important item in the second section of the Treasury is Christian IV's Crown, made for the coronation in 1596.

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.

Christian IV

Christian IV was the King of Denmark and Norway from 1588; crowned in 1596. Son of Frederik II and Sophie of Mecklenburg.

Collection History

Rosenborg has a long museum tradition. The core consisted of Christian IV’s magnificent collection of riding trappings and parade arms, which were transferred from Frederiksborg Castle in 1658. Soon after the King’s costumes followed together with heirlooms and precious artifacts. During the reign of Christian V the Regalia were transferred from Copenhagen Castle, and during the reign of Frederik IV collections of glass and porcelain arrived, as well as the art collections of the dukes of Holstein, captured from Gottorp Castle. The Crown Jewels were originally bequeathed for the use of the reigning Queen, because “in this Royal Family there have been so few jewels, and no Crown Jewels at all”, as the benefactress, Queen Sophie Magdalene, wrote in her will in 1746. In the early 19th century it was suggested that the Royal collections should be opened to the public. The scientist and Court official A.W. Hauch drew up a plan in 1813, innovative in its principle of exhibition. The earlier “theme” rooms were to be replaced with interior exhibitions which followed successive Royal generations chronologically. A walk round the museum would thus be a journey through the history of Denmark from Christian IV to the present day. The Castle was opened to the public in 1838. After the abolishment of Absolutism in 1849, the Royal castles and palaces became state property. In 1854 Frederik VII agreed with the state that the collection was to become entailed property passed on from king to king.