Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway

Remarkable works of art showcasing the timeless craft of Norwegian silversmiths and goldsmiths come to the United States for the first time, on exclusive loan. Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway features some 200 objects—from spoons, tankards, sugar bowls, and salt cellars to elaborate ceremonial wedding crowns and fantastical vessels.​​

This exceptional look at Nordic history and aesthetics across centuries showcases works from three prestigious collections of art, craft, and design: Kode Bergen Art Museum, the Bergen University Museum, and the private collection of Norwegian collector Christen Sveaas. Spanning the 16th to the early 20th century, the exhibition offers a fascinating look at the intersecting forces of global trade, taste, and fashion.

For centuries, Bergen, one of the largest port cities in Scandinavia, was a thriving hub of global commerce, with a burgeoning export of fish, timber, and fur. That trade in turn spurred the development of a uniquely Norwegian approach to the art of Bergen silversmiths. Crowning the North examines the evolution of the craft against the backdrop of political, social, and economic change in Norway and other parts of the world.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website