The purpose of researching the Nationalmuseum’s ca. 30, 000 works of applied arts and design is to increase availability and knowledge of this collection for the general public and scholars. The result of the research project will be published in material-based complete collection catalogues.
The catalogues will include new research on identification, provenance, and exhibition history as well as bibliographical references on each individual object. As a complement to the catalogue section, introductory essays will be published with the aim of placing the works of art into its art historical and cultural historical context. Each object will receive necessary conservation care as well as new photography.
The silver catalogues
The initial stage of this project is devoted to the Nationalmuseum’s vast collections of silver, ca. 2,000 pieces. The silver collections consist of objects of both Swedish and foreign origin, of profane or sacred function, and the objects can be dated from the early 16th century to our own time.
This new series of complete collection catalogues will be published in both Swedish and English, in order to reach a wider international audience.
The first volume, Swedish Silver 1500 – 1850, was published in 2009.
Project group
The research project is lead by Phd Karin Sidén, Director of the Research, Archives and Art Library. Researcher and project manager Lisa Skogh has the fulltime responsibility of the research project.
Sofia Silfverstolpe is research assistant with responsibility to work with the modern and contemporary applied art & design collections. Ulrika Schaeder is conservator together with Charlotta Bylund Melin acting supervising conservator, and Olle Andersson is the responsible photographer under supervision of photographer Erik Cornelius.
Librarian Christina Klarström registers literature on silver and precious metals, part of the National Library of Art (Konstbiblioteket), thus making a large number of bibliographical references available both to the project team as well as visitors to the library.
The art historical group of reference include curators Micael Ernstell and Birgitta Martinius of Nationalmuseum.