The Marble Room (room 5)
This room was originally Kirsten Munk's bedroom. Frederik III transformed the room into the pompous Baroque style that you see today, and Christian V used this very room when he first awarded the Order of the Dannebrog in 1671.
From Kirsten Munk's bedroom to a marble chamber without any marble
This room was originally Kirsten Munk's (Christian IV's second wife) bedroom.
In 1668, Frederik III transformed the room into a pompous Baroque style to glorify the absolute monarchy, which had been established eight years earlier. The walls were covered with artificial marble, which at the time was more exclusive than real marble. Artificial marble is a mixture of crushed stone and glue, smoothed out and painted to resemble marble.
The ceiling was equipped with new stucco and paintings featuring putti – small chubby, angel-like child figures – carrying regalia. In the heart-shaped fields around them, parts of the coat of arms can be seen.
It was right here in this room that Christian V awarded the Order of the Dannebrog for the first time in 1671. Among the recipients were Griffenfeld and Cort Adeler.
The marble chamber underwent extensive restoration in 2012-13, carried out by experts from Denmark, Germany, and Italy.
The restoration was supported by the A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation for General Purposes.
Objects in the room
If you are physically at the museum, you can admire the outstanding objects and read more about them below.
Please note that these descriptions are brief and often without images. They serve as an additional resource for those who wish to gain more knowledge about each object, such as who created them, their origin, and significance.
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500Six mirror sconces and two mirrors of silver, with the monogram of Frederik IV and parts of the Danish coat-of-arms, surrounded by rays. Made for this room by Hendrich Reinicke in Copenhagen 1706.
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501Silver tankard with inlaid Holstein coins with nettle-leaves, lions on the lid and feet in the form of the collared swans of Stormarn. Made for Hamburg’s projected acclamation of Frederik III in 1654 by goldsmith Jørgen Stilke (see nos. 503, 530, 5156-5162).
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502Silver cup presented to a member of the deputation from Bornholm, who handed over the island to King Frederik III in 1658. Made by Michael Kabes of Nuremberg.
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503Tankards of silver with inlaid Holstein coins with nettle leaves, lions on the covers, and feet in the form of the collared swans of Stormarn. Made for Hamburg's projected acclamation of Frederik III in 1654 (nos. 501, 530, 5156-5162). The cup is stamped with the mark of the goldsmith Jørgen Stilke.
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506Two masque figures of colored glass on a framework of metal thread (comedy figures, morra players). Early 17th century Venetian work. Bought for the Cabinet of Curiosities in 1670.
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508Two seals, enamel ascribed to Paul Kurtz.
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510Chess pieces of slate including Kings Frederik III and Carl X Gustav of Sweden and their consorts.
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511Nautilus cup bearing engravings of Frederik III on horseback; the Siege of Copenhagen, and the Battle in the Sound. Engraved by J. Hercules, 1671?
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512Pomander (perfume container) made of walnut, with carved portraits of Frederik III and Sophie Amalie, made in 1660 by the medallist Johan Blum?
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514Animal group in wax; an elephant shaking off its keeper and tossing aside an ibex. Allegorical representation of the victory over Stenbock's Swedish army at Nyborg, 1659.
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517Equestrian statuette of silver: Frederik III tilting at the ring. The figure is driven by clockwork. Made in Copenhagen by Jørgen Stichmand, c. 1650.
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521Equestrian statuette carved in iron; represents the Emperor Leopold of Germany (1640-1705); Made by Gottfried Leigebe 1659-60.
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523Cabinet covered with tortoiseshell and inlaid with silver ornaments. Antwerp, c. 1680? In the Marble Room in 1696.
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526Silver tankard of chased silver with mythological motifs, by Hermann Lambrecht of Hamburg, c. 1650.
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527Ebony cabinet decorated with Florentine mosaics and marble. Augsburg, 1630-40.
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529Two carved guéridons, of gilded and blue painted wood. Monogram of Queen Sophie Amalie on the pedestal. Top of artificial marble (scagliola) with the coats-of-arms of Denmark and Lüneburg. Matching table, bearing the Queen's motto: En Dieu mon Esperance: My hope in God. Stand made in Copenhagen by Jean L'Estienne, top by Ottavio Carone 1672? Saved from the fire at Sophie Amalienborg in 1689.
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530Tankard of silver with inset Holstein nettle-leaf coins (see no. 501, 503, 5156-5162).
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531Cabinet set of five vases in silver filigree. Denmark c. 1675?
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532Queen Christina of Sweden. Bust of ivory, made by Joachim Henne c.1667.
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534Coconut with Frederik III's monogram. Signed: Th. Broughton fecit.
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536Tankard carved in ivory, with handle and lining of silver gilt. On the cover, a couple seated on a wine cask, on the body, garden scenes with courting couple. Mounting stamped Lübeck, c. 1650. Master: CPM?
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537Tankard carved in ivory, showing the Abduction of Persephone, attributed to David Heschler, Ulm, c.1650. Mounting unstamped.
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540Cup of sycamore with Frederik III and Sophie Amalie's monograms; on the cover three standing lions supporting a crown. Signed: Samuel Halvor (Fanden) 1664.