The Treasury's 1st section (room G)

The Treasury under the castle opened to the public in 1975. The Treasury houses most of the invaluable treasures of the Royal Collection and was designed by architect Peter Koch. The Treasury is divided into three sections. You are now in the first section.

Christian III's Sword and The Oldenburg Horn

Christian III's Sword

When you enter the 1st section of the Treasury, you cannot miss the large, beautiful sword right in front of you. It is Christian III's royal sword. The sword was among the regalia used at the coronations of Danish kings before the introduction of absolute monarchy. After absolute monarchy was introduced in January 1661, kings were no longer crowned, as only God was above the king. Therefore, during the absolute monarchy, kings were only anointed. The sword was last used at Frederik III's coronation in 1648.

The Oldenburg Horn

It is also here in the 1st section that you can see "The Oldenburg Horn." It is said that the first Oldenburg, Count Otto, received the horn from a mysterious young girl during a hunt in the year 989. The young girl wanted him to drink from the horn, but he poured out the drink and took the horn with him instead. Today, however, we know that the horn was first made around 1400, but that does not make the origin story of the horn any less interesting.

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.

5000

Christian III's Sword of State. Grip and scabbard of gold with enamel and table-cut diamonds. Made in 1551 by the goldsmith Johann Siebe. After design by Jakob Binck? Before the introduction of Absolutism in 1660, the Sword of State was the first of the regalia to be handed over to the King. Used for the last time at the coronation of Frederik III in 1648.
5002

The Oldenborg Horn. Legend has it that in the year 989, the first member of the House of Oldenborg, Count Otto, while out hunting met a young maiden, who handed him a drinking horn and bade him drink his fill. He sensibly threw away the contents and kept the horn. The legend notwithstanding, the horn, made of silver decorated with enamel, was made in c. 1465 and was probably presented to Cologne Cathedral by Christian I. After the Reformation it was returned to the family's possession. In 1667 it was handed down from the ducal line of Oldenborg to the Danish Royal House.
5004

Relief in chased gold from the late 15th century representing St. Michael.
5006

St. George medallion of enamelled gold. On the reverse an added medallion of Joseph and Mary with the Child. Both from c. 1550 and both in the same frame of rubies and emeralds from the 17th century.
5008

Hat ornament, consisting of gold plate with beaten and chiselled female figure with vase in high relief. Pandora? Milan, c. 1560?

5010

Mirror in gilt, richly ornamented silver frame with garnets. Made in Antwerp c. 1564. Possibly wedding gift for Duchess Christine of Holstein-Gottorp.
5012

Philip of Spain (1527-98). Onyx cameo with name. Made by Jacopo da Trezzo or his workshop in Madrid c. 1560. 1560?
5014

Gold medallion with beaten and chiselled portrayal of Christ on the Throne. On the reverse: CUR QVÆRIS NOMEN MEU. QUOD EST MIRABILE: You ask my name. It is wondrous. A reference to the angel's reply to the childless Manoah before his wife bears Samson. (Judges, 13) Amulet to ward of infertility? South Germany 1550-1600?
5016

Chalice of gold with inlaid enamel. Made for Frederik II's newly erected chapel at Kronborg by the goldsmith Hans Raadt in 1583?
5018

Paten of gold with inlaid enamel. Made in the latter half of the 16th century. From Kronborg Castle Chapel.

5020

The Order of the Elephant in its oldest existing form, with Frederik II's picture, monogram and motto. Made in 1580 by Hans Raadt after a drawing by Melchior Lorck?
5026

The Order of the Mailed Sword-Arm, dated 1617. Gold enamel with table-cut stones. Instituted by Christian IV to commemorate the Kalmar War against Sweden 1611-13. Made by Corvinianus Sauer?
5028

Christian IV’s arm. Cast in lead on the basis of an impression of the King’s right arm made by Hans van Steenwinckel (II) in c. 1614. Possibly made as a model for the Order of the Mailed Sword-Arm, or perhaps with a view to production of an equestrian statue.

5030

The Order of the Elephant. Gold enamel with table-cut stones. On the elephant's cloth the Order of the Mailed Sword-Arm (no. 5028). This combination of the two orders was conferred on two occasions, in 1633 and 1634. Since then only the Order of the Elephant has been conferred.
5032

Silver plates with amber bases, made in 1585 in Kaliningrad by Andreas Knieffel for the Margravine Sophie of Brandenburg, née Princess of Brunswick and Lüneburg, Frederik II's cousin. Amberwork by Stenzel Snitt? Housewarming present to Frederik II at Kronborg? Associated with no. 2721.
5034

Wine jug of silver with Frederik II's crowned monogram: Fredericus Secundus. Danish work?
5036

Rosary of cornelians, onyx and gold beads, and scallop of garnet. 16th century.
5038

Knife handle of gold with monogram, in figures, of Queen Sophie and Frederik II.
5039

Sweetmeat bowl of silver gilt, glorifying the Danish coat-of-arms borne by a lion. Made by Hinrich Lambrecht (I), Hamburg c. 1600.

5040

Gold spoon, engraved with Queen Sophie's monogram and coat-of-arms of Mecklenburg. Denmark, c. 1600?
5041

Silver gilt sweetmeat dish. Made by Hans Lambrecht (II), Hamburg 1631-33. Part of a gift from Christian IV to the Russian Tsar in 1643-44, on the occasion of Count Valdemar Christian’s proposal of marriage to the Tsar’s daughter.
5042

Knife handle with Queen Sophie's monogram and warrior with shield of gold on black enamel. Denmark, c. 1590?
5044

Pomander in the form of a skull, gold and white enamel with rubies. Sponge interior with six compartments for perfume. On a string with corals carved like skulls, of which two are with crown and smiling female face, symbolizing the transience of human life. Denmark, c. 1600?
5046

Queen Anne Cathrine's coat-of-arms as Princess of Brandenburg, embroidered with gold and pearls and studded with turquoises and garnets. From her bed canopy, part of her dowry in 1597.

5052

Pendant in the form of a crowned lion, made in gold with blue enamel and diamonds, from c. 1600.
5054

Pendant in the form of a crowned lion, made in gold with brown enamel and gilded mounting with diamonds, from c. 1600.
5056

Reliefs in silver of Christian IV and Anne Cathrine. Made from designs by Jacob van Doordt, probably after the Queen's death in 1612.
5058

Bracelet of pierced enamelled gold (blue lions, heart with arrow) and the crowned letters A.C. for Queen Anne Cathrine. Beneath the arrow and monogram, braided hair. A gift from Christian IV to his wife?

5060

Bracelet with rubies and diamonds, the links in the form of hearts and hour glasses and the clasp a winged hourglass, symbolizing Love's victory over Death. On the back Christian IV's cipher in enamel. A gift to his mother, Queen Sophie.
5062

Gold cross with female figure ("Faith") and necklace of enamelled gold with rubies, emeralds, a diamond and pearls. From c. 1590.
5064

Spoon with stem of heliotrope and gold enamel, bowl of conch-shell (Cyprea tigris). Prague c. 1610. Whooping cough medicine was thought to have added effect when taken from a conch-shell.
5066

Book cover in gold and champlevé enamel; bears the coats-of-arms of Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein and the initials: A(ugsburg) G(eboren) A(us) K(öniglichem) S(tamm) Z(u) D(änemark) H(erzogin) Z(u) S(chleswig) H(olstein) and I(ohan) A(dolph) H(erzog) Z(u) S(chleswig) H(olstein) 1613.
5068

Cup of reddish-brown jasper made in Venice in the 14th century. The gold and enamel mounting orginates from Christian IV's time. In the bottom a K denoting Kirsten Munk?

5070

Handwritten prayer book belonging to Kirsten Munk and written by herself. On the first page the date, 22nd Sept 1617, written by the King. Later additions by Sophie Rantzau and Leonora Christina. On the cover figure monograms in enamel: 3.4.10.13. (i.e. C(hristian) IV K(irsten) M(unk).
5072

Handwritten prayer book. Belonged to Kirsten Munk. Enamelled ornaments with symbols of Evangelists, and a crowned C K signifying Christian Kirsten. Inside are the names of Christian IV and his sons from 1625, and the name and handwriting of Corfitz Ulfeld's mother from 1636, to whom it must have belonged.
5074

Spoon of gold and enamel with a cut sapphire in the form of a leaf. Bears the letters C. K. (Christian Kirsten). Belonged to Kirsten Munk. Pale sapphires were called female sapphires and symbolized woman's fidelity.
5076

Signet ring with engraved sapphire with Christian IV's monogram and the coats-of-arms of the kingdom's provinces. The sapphire was cut in 1623, the ring, of gold and enamel, made in Hamburg in 1641.
5078

Rose-shaped ornament of enamelled gold with seven red stones. From c. 1600?

5080

Signet ring of gold and engraved sapphire with the Prince Elect's monogram and the coats-of-arms of state and the provinces. From c. 1625.
5082

Vinaigrette of gold with hunting scenes in glass enamel. From 1620-30.

5095

The lesser insignia of the Order of the Garter. Belonged to Christian IVs younger brother, Duke Ulrik (1578-1624), administrator of the diocese Schwerin, who was awarded the Order during a visit to England in 1605.
5096

Gold cup engraved with a crowned C4 and the date 1644. Made by Caspar Herbach?
5098

Butter bowl of dark-green Saxony serpentine with gold mounting on which is engraved: C4 Friedrichsburgk 1643. Made by Caspar Herbach?

5100

Gold spoon with Christian IV's crowned monogram in red enamel. Denmark, c. 1640?
5102

Hourglass of gold enamel with Christian IV's monogram, the year 1633 and a rebus consisting of a burning heart and the words Jahve (Hebrew for Jehovah) and Dirige meum: The Lord direct my burning heart. The rebus has parallels on the Round Tower and on coins from the 1640's.
5104

Sexfoil gold beaker with enamel, rubies and a sapphire. Made for the Prince Elect's wedding in 1634?
5106

Oval mirror, on the back of which Christian IV's rebus from the Round Tower with enamel letters on black velvet. (no. 5102).
5108

Sapphire in silver setting as costume ornament.

5110

Gustavus II Adolphus (1594-1632), King of Sweden. Relief portrait in gold and enamel, made after a medal by Sebastian Dadler. Nuremberg, 1630's?
5112

Spoon with bowl of enamelled gold and stem of coral. From c. 1620?
5114

Knife handle of gold with alchemistic inscription(?): 4 3/6 K and a crowned figure monogram 8 for the Electress Hedevig of Saxony, Christian IV's sister, and the date 1632.
5116

Butter bowl of stoneware with mounting of silver gilt. On the lid a Hebrew inscription for the Holy Trinity. On the foot a crowned 8 for the Electress Hedevig of Saxony and the date 1639. In Saxony, a dedicated development of stoneware production led to Meissen porcelain.
5118

Pair of gold scissors with figure of eight handle, Electress Hedevig's figure monogram and the year 1636.

5120

Forkhandle of gold in the form of a figure. Gold with enamel and rubies. From c. 1630.
5122

Chalice, paten, wafer box and altar jug of gold with engraving in niello, white and black enamel, sapphires and diamonds. Made for Christian IV's sister, Duchess Augusta of Holstein-Gottorp, partly reusing precious stones from her mother's estate. The engraving on the chalice is based on illustrations by Matthæus Merian in 1625-28 for the Strasbourg edition of Luther's Bible in 1630.

The Treasury's 1st section (room G)

Christian III's Sword and The Oldenburg Horn

Objects in the room

Please note that this page is being updated and has therefore been temporarily translated with AI.