New exhibition in the Queen Sonja Art Stable

The Royal Stable was at the height of its glory in the years following the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. The practice of keeping horses ended in 1940. Today Queen Sonja opened the door back to a time when horses were as common to see on the Oslo streets as cars are today.

“This time we’ve gone straight to the source, as it were,” said the Queen. “To the origins of this building. To the history of keeping horses at the Royal Court, a practice which Queen Maud revived. This exhibition displays many unique artefacts relating to the upkeep and use of the Royal Family’s horses as practiced up to the Second World War. We are very happy to make these available for viewing to the public.”     

Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Märtha Louise were in attendance at the official opening of the exhibition today. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB scanpix  

Three generations later, another member of the Royal Family, Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise, is carrying on Queen Maud’s passion for horses and riding. The Princess took active part in the opening today, sharing her own stories and thoughts about riding and the exhibition in a conversation with Queen Sonja. The Princess is also featured in the exhibition, as the narrator of the audio guide to the Royal Tack Room. 

The opening programme featured a performance by jazz musician Ellen Andrea Wang and an informal talk on the history of the Royal Stable by Ulf Holmene from the Directorate for Cultural Heritage. 

From the exhibition

Some of the Palace’s finest carriages, harnesses and tack are on display in the exhibition.

 One of the main elements of the exhibition is a fully kitted-out landau drawn by four horses as it would have been when taking King Haakon to the Storting. Such an equipage could be over 12 metres long. In comparison, a modern bus is between 12 to 15 metres long. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB scanpix  

Queen Maud had a passion for horses and was an accomplished equestrian who always rode side-saddle. Upon arrival in Norway in 1905, the Queen began an extensive upgrading of the Royal Stable, with expenses covered by the King’s private means. Queen Maud’s riding attire, tack and favourite carriage are on display in the exhibition.

Queen Maud’s cariole was delivered by carriage maker Peder Norseng of Hamar. It had a small passenger seat at the back for Crown Prince Olav. Photo: Jan Haug, The Royal Collections

The Royal Tack Room is open to the public for the first time. Filled with saddles, harnesses and other necessary tack, this unique room has remained largely untouched since the last of the horses left the Royal Stable in 1940.

The Royal Tack Room is open to the public for the first time. Photo: Jan Haug, The Royal Court

 
Kristin Günther’s video installation Hesten [The Horse] is projected on the ceiling. A permanent part of the Kistefos  Museum’s collection, the installation is on loan to the Queen Sonja Art Stable for this exhibition. The installation adds a dash of modernity to the display of historical objects, yet it was inspired by Baroque ceiling frescoes.

The coachmen’s livery is also on display in the exhibition. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB scanpix

The exhibition is open to the public from 13 October.