The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgJacob Jensen Nordmand

Jacob Jensen Nordmand

The ivory turner Jacob Jensen was born in Norway and became a sailor in the Danish navy. He was then apprenticed as a blacksmith in the Low Countries and, from 1624 to 1639, he was a soldier for the Low Countries in Brazil.

In 1648, when Frederik III and Sophie Amalie arrived in Kristiania (Oslo) to receive homage, Jacob Jensen succeeded in presenting the Queen with a piece of work of his. It was so well received that he was called to Denmark and was employed by the court as a turner. He worked in the Kunstkammeret (the Cabinet of Curiosities) and the Tøjhuset (the Arsenal), he became Master of the Arsenal in 1657.

He taught ivory turning to several members of the Royal family; among his students were Frederik III, Sophie Amalie, Christian V, Charlotte Amalie and Crown Prince Frederik (IV). Frederik III held Jacob Jensen in such high esteem that he ordered a portrait of him by Wolfgang Heimbach. This hangs presently in Rosenborg above his most outstanding work: a magnificent model of the frigate “Norske Løve” (“Norwegian Lion”), executed in ivory and silver.

 

Relations

Cup of narwhal tusk

Cup of narwhal tusk, gold and enamel. On the lid an iniut symbolizing the supremacy of the Danish king’s in the Northern seas, particularly the Baltic. Carved by Jacob Jensen.

Charlotte Amalie

Charlotte Amalie became the Queen of Denmark in 1670. She was the daughter of Landgrave William VI of Hesse-Kassel. In 1667 she was married to Christian (V); as well as other children they had Frederik (IV).

Sophie Amalie

Sophie Amalie became Queen of Denmark in 1648. She was the daughter of Duke George of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and in 1643 she was married to Frederik (III). Sophie Amalie was the mother of Christian V.

1675-1700

From 1675 to 1679 the Scanian War was fought with Sweden. But the final goal, to win back Scania, was not reached as no European state would allow both sides of Øresund to be ruled by the same power again.

1625-1650

The second half of Christian IV's reign became a time of recession. The economic crisis became more severe, and at the same time the fortunes of war turned.

1650-1675

The wars of Charles Gustavus (1657-1658 and 1658-1660) were the important events in foreign politics of the period. The loss of Scania, Halland and Blekinge at the Peace of Roskilde in 1658 was a nadir of power politics in Danish history.

Frederik III

Frederik III was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1648; he was married to Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1643 and father to Christian V.

Christian V

Christian V was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1670; son of Frederik III and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He was married to Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel in 1667. He was the father of Frederik IV.