Viking Magazine - May 2017 - 29

nature and history. Forty birds and
six butterflies are painted in the room,
including a white-tailed eagle that
hovers on the ceiling.
The decorations are inspired by
the designs used in stave churches,
including the dragon ornamentation
framing the wall panels. Specially
designed oak furniture was created in a
Neo-Renaissance style, and includes a
console table, mirror and sofas.
THE COUNCIL CHAMBER
Every Friday morning, the King
presides over the Council of State in
the chamber. When in attendance, the
Prime Minister sits to the King's right,
while the other ministers sit around the
table in their order of rank. Originally,
the chamber was part of the King's
official apartments on the second floor,
but under King Haakon VII, it was
moved to the first floor.
A major renovation took place in
the 1990s. Deemed too small for all
the government ministers, the room
was expanded by removing the walls
between the council room and the
antechamber. The antechamber still
features starred ceilings, which were
designed in the 1950s. Once painted
yellow and furnished with red curtains
and upholstery during the reign of King
Olav V, the color scheme transitioned to
blue, white and gold after a restoration
in the 1990s.
In the Council Chamber, you'll find
the King's throne, which was designed
by Linstow in the 1840s. The Crown
Prince's chair is from 1997 and is only
in use when the King and Crown Prince
are both present at a Council of State.
The other chairs were all designed in
the 1880s by a master cabinet-maker
for King Oscar II, and since then they
have been restored and more chairs
replicated to accommodate the growing
number of government ministers. The
artwork around the room showcases
significant events in Norway's history
following the dissolution from Sweden.
THE GREAT HALL
Known as " the Ballroom, " the Great
Hall is the most lavish room in the
palace. Today, the Ballroom is used for
luncheons, banquets, balls and events
that mark momentous occasions for
the Royal amily, such as a ball in 2005
to mark the centennial anniversary of
the dissolution of the union between
Norway and Sweden. Crown Princess
Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon
celebrated their wedding in the Great
Hall in 2001.
Linstow had a specific vision for
the Ballroom. He spent more money
on the design and decoration for the
space than the entire second floor of
the palace. His main inspiration was
a concert hall in Berlin, which can be
seen in the design of the floors. The
floor is parquet, as Linstow explained,
" all dance halls in Berlin have parquet
floors, and it would be unheard of to
dance on wooden planks. "
Many of the decorations were
imported from Berlin as well. The
color scheme for the Ballroom is a
classic white and gold with pink wall
panels. In an effort to make the space
Construction of the Royal Palace
On Oct. 29, the
Storting passes a
resolution to build the
Royal residence in the
Norwegian capital.
1822
1823
Brigade lawyer and Danish
architect Hans Ditlev Frants
Linstow is approved to serve
on the commission for the
construction of the palace.
The final plans for the palace are
approved by King Carl Johan and
the foundation stone is laid on
Oct. 1 in a formal ceremony at
the future Palace Square.
1825
The original " H-shape "
design of the palace is
simplified by Linstow.
Construction resumes
the following year.
sonsofnorway.com VIKING MAY 2017 29
1833
Linstow is granted permission by King
Carl Johan to take an extensive trip
around Europe to gather inspiration
for the interior design and décor of
the palace.
1836
PHOTOS RIGHT BY (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP): HELGE HOVLAND / THE ROYAL COLLECTION, " PORTRAIT OF HANS LINSTOW " BY CARL PETER LEHMANN (1794-1876) / OSLO BYMUSEUM / BYMUSEET / RUNE AAKVIK,
PHOTOS (LEFT TO RIGHT): CORNELIUS POPPE / NTB SCANPIX, HÅKON MOSVOLD LARSEN / NTB SCANPIX

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Viking Magazine - May 2017

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