Opening of the new exhibition at the Queen Sonja Art Stable

“Good craftsmanship fulfils a function, meets a need, and has a special beauty. It enhances and gives lustre to everyday life and festive occasions through the objects that we use – year after year. Such objects grow in importance over time, because they follow us through life and we instil them with our own personal narratives – or with our shared, national history,” the Queen said during the opening. 

The Queen speaking at the opening in the Queen Sonja Art Stable. Photo: Øivind Möller Bakken, The Royal Collections

The exhibition Craftsmanship at the Royal Palace – 200 years of creations in the Queen Sonja Art Stable showcases some of Norway’s most beautifully crafted objects from a wide range of trades and traditions. On display are unique items from The Royal Collection representing 26 different craft trades. What is more, the Storting (Norwegian parliament) has generously lent the throne used annually by the King during the formal State Opening of the parliamentary session. The throne is an excellent example of the work of master gilders and woodcarvers.  

The exhibition was opened by the novelist Vigdis Hjort, who in addition to her writing career, actively works with handicrafts and embroidery art.

Novelist Vigdis Hjort opens the exhibition with an entertaining essay about embroidery and handicrafts. Photo: Øivind Möller Bakken, The Royal Collections

On display for the first time

Craftsmanship at the Royal Palace – 200 years of creations encompasses nearly 100 objects. Some have never been shown in public before.

One item in the display is the coronation robe created by prominent furriers in the 19^th century and last worn by Queen Maud at her coronation ceremony with King Haakon in 1906.

The exhibition also includes an early freight cart; one of Queen Sonja’s retailored ensembles, Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s Telemark bunad, silver jewellery and other metal works, pioneering blown glass art by Hadeland, and items illustrating Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s active interest in woven textiles and vintage design. 

This coronation robe, last used in 1906, is one of the objects on display. Photo: Øivind Möller Bakken, The Royal Collections

“We need more of this”

“We hope the exhibition will increase awareness that skilled craftspeople have a key role to play in a sustainable future. We also hope it will provide broader insight into Norwegian cultural heritage and lead to a greater understanding of the role of vibrant craftsmanship – our intangible cultural heritage – both in making and in renewing history. Traditional handiwork is not just a part of our past. It also belongs to the future. My feeling is: we need more of this,” the Queen said during her speech.

The exhibition pays tribute to craft traditions handed down through generations and to the people who keep them alive today. Photo: Øivind Möller Bakken, The Royal Collections

The Queen has a keen interest in handicrafts, art, cultural affairs and heritage preservation. 

After completing lower secondary school in Oslo’s Ris district in 1954, Queen Sonja learned dressmaking and needlework at the Oslo Vocational School. She then travelled to Switzerland and graduated from École Professionelle de Jeunes Filles in Lausanne. Her studies there included fashion design, among other things. Last year, the Queen was named an Honorary Craftsperson by the Oslo Crafts and Industrial Arts Association.

The exhibition features some of the Queen’s own student works from her dressmaking and other garment sewing studies.

Many of those invited to the opening are practitioners of one of the 26 crafts represented in the exhibition. Photo: Øivind Möller Bakken, The Royal Collections

The exhibition Craftsmanship at the Royal Palace – 200 years of creations is open to the public at the Queen Sonja Art Stable from 29 January to 17 September.

More information about opening hours at the Queen Sonja Art Stable