Frederik IV’s Hall (room 10)

This room is an excellent illustration of how much Rosenborg Castle has changed over the years. Rooms and halls have been altered, and decorations and furnishings have been moved around the castle to keep up with the royal residents’ changing tastes and needs.

From Christian IV’s audience chamber to beautifully decorated antechamber

This room was originally one window section wider and served as Christian IV’s audience chamber. The marble fireplace that now stands in Christian IV’s bedchamber originally stood in this room. The ceiling was originally decorated with paintings of mythological themes, which were later moved to Christian IV’s Winter Room, where they are still found to this day.

When Rosenborg Castle was renovated around 1700, this room was made smaller and converted into an antechamber for Frederik IV’s sister Princess Sophie Hedevig. In connection with the renovation, the ceiling panels with painted emblems were installed. They had previously decorated the ceiling of the Knights’ Hall. It is believed that the panels were painted by Anders Nielsen in 1623. In the renovation, the walls were covered with tapestries woven in the Flemish town of Oudenaarde.

The beautiful chandelier is made of rock crystal. Notice the arms of the chandelier, which have intricate decorations in the form of patterned steel with protrusions and ornamentation. This is also known as chased steel. The chandelier is believed to be the work of Anton Matthias Joseph Domanöck in Vienna. It was originally a gift from Empress Maria Theresia of Austria. From 1754 to 1794, it hung in the royal Audience Chamber at Christiansborg Palace.

Objects in the room

If you are at the museum, you can admire the fascinating objects in the room and read more about them below.

The descriptions are brief and generally do not include images. They are intended as an added resource if you would like more detailed information about an item, such as who made it, its origin and its meaning.

1002

Table with with inlaid semi-precious stones. A present to Frederik IV, 1709, from the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
1003

Queen Louise, consort of Frederik IV; three quarter length, painted by J.S. du Wahl.
1004

Frederik IV: small equestrian silver statuette, presented to the King as a New Year present by Queen Louise in 1701; made in Copenhagen by the King's goldsmith Andreas Normand. The enamelled coats-of-arms by Josias Barbette?
1005

Two lacquered tables with mirrors, made by the van Bracht family? Part of the lacquered furnishings made for the King's Chamber (Room 6). 1720s?
1006

Double portrait of Frederik IV and his sister, Sophie Hedevig; painted on a corrugated surface, so that only one at a time can be seen; executed in 1692 by G.A. Bois Clair.
1007

Cabinet, decorated with lacquer and with mosaics of semiprecious stones. Lacquering by Christian van Bracht, mosaics brought back from Florence by Frederik IV in 1709. Belonged to the King's sister, Princess Sophie Hedevig.
1008

Silver jug in the shape of a horse.
1009

Frederik IV; three quarter length, painted by J.S. du Wahl.

1010

Two generations: Christian V and Queen Charlotte Amalie together with Frederik IV and Queen Louise. Ivory reliefs from c.1700.
1011

Four portrait reliefs of Frederik IV and Queen Louise, made by Jean Cavalier, among others, in the 1690s.
1012

Tea service. A teapot, two sugar bowls and cups. Gilded silver with chinoiserie in lacquer. Made by Elias Adam in Augsburg 1708-9. Presumably a present from Frederik IV to his sister, Sophie Hedevig.
1013

Covered tureen of Icelandic obsidian, made by H. Holst 1725 in Copenhagen and ornamented with miniatures of Frederik IV, Anna Sophie, and Carl XII.
1014

Two carafes with the double monograms of Frederik IV and Christian VI and inscriptions. Saxony, c. 1714.
1015

Medicine chest. South Germany c. 1720.
1016

Chinese cup and saucer, with Danish inscription commemorating the Peace of Frederiksborg, 1720.
1017

Small Chinese teapot, with Frederik IV's and Queen Anna Sophie's monograms.
1018

Frederik IV crowned by the Goddess of Victory. Silver statuette on a pedestal with gilding and green enamel; made on the occasion of the Peace of Frederiksborg, 1720. Signed: Peter Klein.
1019

Frederik IV. Statuette, alabaster, made by Thomas Quellinus or his workshop c.1700.

1022

Frederik IV's leather-covered savings box.
1023

Silver cups with covers. Augsburg work. Tournament prize from a party given for Frederik IV in Dresden 1709.
1025

Pack of cards with pictures in silk patchwork.
1026

Goblet of copper on a stem of two crossed forks united by a crown. Presented to Queen Louise by admiral Christian Carl Gabel, whose coat-of-arms consists of two crowned forks.
1028

To goblets of gilt silver with inscriptions commemorating the alliance against Carl XII of Sweden, entered by Frederik IV of Denmark, August the Strong of Saxony-Poland and Peter the Great of Russia in 1709. The lid is Saxonian, the goblets 16th century Nuremberg. Said to have been used in Copenhagen in 1716 by Peter the Great for Danish brandy (aquavit).

1030

Ivory reliefs with biblical and mythological scenes; made by the Norwegian carver Magnus Berg (1666-1739).
1032

Frederik IV; relief portrait in ivory.
1033

Phial with oil from the anointing of Frederik IV.
1034

Frederik IV as Prince. Enamelled miniature signed: J. Barbette.
1035

Anna Sophie's signet as Duchess of Schleswig, carved in cornelian.
1036

Silver crucifix with gilded ornamentation and matching case in filigree silver. According to Italian accounts it was given to Frederik IV by Maria Maddalena Trenta from Lucca, whom the King met for the first time in 1692 and for the second time in 1709, when she had retired to a convent.
1037

Queen Anna Sophie's hymnbook.
1038

Silver watch made by Jacob N. Witte in Copenhagen. On the inside, relief portraits of Frederik IV and Anna Sophie.

1040

Altar-shaped clock with movement, quarter-stroke and organ. In the mirror-niche there was originally a stuffed white canary. Drawer containing writing set. Made in Augsburg c.1700 by J.A. Thelott and others.
1041

Frederik IV. Marble bust made by Just Wiedewelt, 1719.
1042

Christian V presiding at the Supreme Court, presumably painted in 1697. The picture is hanging in its original place.
1043

Silver fireguard with Christian VI's cipher as Crown Prince. Made in 1723 by Marcus Pipgros in Copenhagen.
1044

Two silver andirons with the Hessian arms and the monogram and arms of the Landgravine Hedewig Sophie, mother of Queen Charlotte Amalie; dated 1654. Made in Cassel by Christoph Bucher.
1045

Queen Louise. Pendant to no. 1041.
1046

Table clock (similar to no. 1040) with movement, quarter-stroke and organ. In the hall of mirrors an altar with precious stones, topped by a shepherd, a dog and a lamb, whose body is formed by a pearl. In the drawer are writing utensils. Made in Augsburg c. 1710, by Tobias Baur and J.A. Thelott. Bought by Frederik IV as a birthday present for Queen Louise in 1716.
1048

Grandfather clock with lacquered chinoiserie. The dial is signed: W:m Webster Exchange Alley, London.
1049

Cabinet decorated with water-colours of biblical scenes copied from pictures by Raphael; made in Rome c. 1700 by Giacomo Hermano?. At the top, a night clock with an inside signature: Gio. Wendelinus Hessler fecit Romae. In a drawer, a built-in spinettino signed Johannes Meisser and dated 1678. Purchased in 1767 for Christiansborg.