Damsgård Manor

60.3833255.3021111111111Koordinaten: 60 ° 23 '0 " N, 5 ° 18' 8" O

The mansion Damsgård (Norwegian: Damsgård Hovedgård ), also called Jansongård, is considered one of the masterpieces of the rococo in Norway and is one of the best preserved manor houses of wooden architecture of the 18th century in Europe. The building is located in the Alléen 29 in the district of the district Damsgård Laksevåg in Bergen. Today it is part of the city museums in Bergen.

• 2.1 The seated column - a curiosity
• 2.2 Distribution of the building
• 2.3 Landscaping

History

The mansion was built in the area Damsgård Håsteinar. Håsteinar is the former name of the house and is derived from the Old Norse Hásteinar what high means stone. There are two theories as to how the name originated. It is believed that it was derived from either the 284 -meter high mountain Damsgårdfjellet or of a group of large stones in the Damgårdsbucht.

The settlement on the site dates back to the Middle Ages and there are assumptions that the place was already settled in the early 12th century. The first written record dates from Munkelivs jordebok, a land register of the monastery Munkeliv, from the year 1427 During the Reformation, the area was -. , Like the other church property also - in 1536 by King Christian III. confiscated. King Frederick II sold the property in 1562 to Tønnes Clausson on. With the purchase agreement he undertook to build a merchant's house. After Clausson followed by various private owners. The author Fossen calls people from mountains, but also Dutch, German, Danish and French.

Kaufmann House

There is no evidence that a merchant's house has existed before the 17th century. On a map of J. van Geelkerck from 1653, which today is located in Bergen in the city collection of Historisk museum, a merchant's house is shown. It is the building in Damsgårdveien 174 In the 17th century Dam Tonnesson took over the estate from his father Tønnes Clausson. He is regarded as a name of the court and the name Damsgård is first sagefallsregnskap in Bergen, called the redemption book of Bergen, in 1643. Håsteinar and Damsgård - - During this century, both names are used interchangeably.

According to a report from 1731, the red-roofed house was equipped with a parlor, a daily office, chambers and kitchen with chimney, pantry and root cellar. Two tiles from Beilegerofen that were found during a restoration were provided with the years 1673 and 1699.

Mansion Damsgård

The oldest part of the existing manor house today probably dates from the time of Severin Seehusen ( 1664-1726 ). Currently, the building was used as a summer house, at the same time it functioned well as a normal house. It was painted red and green in the bright colors. This, and the layout are known from a tax document from the year 1731.

1769 took over the General War Commissioner Joachim Christian Geelmuyden Gyldenkrantz ( 1730-1795 ) the estate. A year later, he decided the conversion and the end of the 1770s, the building was given its U-shape, a tower on the main building and the famous Rococo façade. Christmas 1795 died Gyldenkrantz on the estate and it was in 1796 to the court factor Herman Didrich Janson ( 1757-1822 ), currently one of the richest merchants in Bergen, auctioned.

Janson led by minor alterations and the house remained in the family until 1983. 1865 took place a comprehensive renovation of the interior, where many rooms were painted and papered. Since around 1870, the house was inhabited throughout the year until it was in 1983 transferred to the State and the industry Vestlandske art museum mountains. The building took again a major renovation, but was kept relatively well maintained. The restoration work required ten years before the museum was opened on 28 June 1993. Since 2005, the management of the house is up to the Bymuseet i Bergen, Bergen City Museum.

In April 2013, an accident in which a car rolled over the main gate and drove into the rear facade of the main building occurred. The building is currently undergoing restoration again to fix the damage. The museum is expected to reopen until 2014.

Since 27 February 1924, the mansion Damsgård is a listed building.

Architecture

The main facade of the U- shaped building facing the harbor entrance to Bergen. She is taller than the house itself and designed in rococo style. To create a perfect symmetry of the facade, some windows are painted to Herrngarten only on the facade.

The seated column - a curiosity

The main entrance is flanked by two columns supporting the pediment part. The columns stand on base elements, so-called pedestals, which are swung towards the door. This architectural detail is not known from other places and it is contrary to the supporting function of the column. However, there is on several altarpieces in the Norwegian Vestlandet again, probably all produced in Bergen. On some of them there is the same curved column. Valentin has Wedel's drawing of the main facade is a striking similarity with the upper piece of the altarpiece in Sykkylven, so that the author is probably the same. The current main façade, however, was amended on triangular gable later in 1800. The art historian Jan Hendrich Lexow is of the opinion that the book Prospect de pittori e architetti (Rome 1693-1700 ) of the Jesuit Father Andrea Pozzo, the background is this Vestlandphänomens. Pozzo were 13 different altar compositions in a back and declared them as altars Capriccioso, which also has curved columns. The book was widely spread in Europe, yet this architectural motif is nowhere used knowingly outside the Vestlandet.

Arrangement of the building

The front hall is located at the main entrance and is used to receive guests. The walls are decorated with lintels, which are topics of Munkholmen in Trondheim, Fredrik Berg in Copenhagen and whaling in the North Sea. The floor is covered with marble slabs of mountains. The right of the hallway, the Blue Room, left the Golden Chamber and straight ahead leads to the rear hall, which leads out to the courtyard.

The rear hall is oriented to the courtyard. The door to the courtyard dates from the 18th century. Originally, it was located in the main facade and was used as part of the reconstruction under Gyldenkrantz around 1770 in the courtyard façade. Furthermore, one can see traces of the first flight of stairs, which was also produced in the 18th century. A fire bucket from the time of the first Jansons is also located here.

The Blue Room is a connecting room and is located right next to the entrance and to the left of the Red Cabinet. From the room you have a view on the Laksevåg Church and the Kirkebukt. The name got the room from the blue and white velor wallpaper that was installed during the renovation work under Gyldenkrantz. The soil is recent. On the walls are many portraits and engravings, including a portrait of Gyldenkrantz, which was made ​​in 1783 by JCC Michaelsen. In the room there is a chandelier and a magnificent stove with dark tiles, which is relatively rare in Norway. Was made ​​of the oven mid-18th century in Germany. In a cabinet several items are kept and exhibited in silver.

The Red Cabinet with direct access to the blue room and offers the same views. The name got the room with its red wallpaper, which dates from around 1865. The furniture dates from the mid -19th century.

The women's apartment is located on the west side of the main house. It connects to the red cabinet and you have access to a small kitchen. From the window you can look on the woman garden. A large four poster bed from the end of the 18th century is located in the bedroom.

The small kitchen connects to the women's apartment and has views of the courtyard. This kitchen was used when no festivities took place in the mansion. The space is so designed as it has left the family in 1983 Janson.

The Golden Chamber is on the main facade, the Blue room opposite. It is richly furnished, however, is the establishment of the first half of the 19th century. The golden color of the walls dates from the period in which Herman Didrich Janson took over the house.

The medallion room is adjacent to the Golden Chamber, forming a corner room on the main and the east façade. The room is decorated in bright reds and on the walls there are five painted medallions that are adorned with frames and infills. The paintings show landscapes and forms a Jansons from boats. The furniture and the chandelier date from the second half of the 19th century. In 1887 the medallion room was a door to the garden, it is located on the east side of the house.

The Lord 's apartment is located on the west side of the main building and can be accessed from the locket room and the kitchen. From the room you have views of the garden Lord. On the walls below the ceiling a braid is attached, can be seen on the running dogs. The furniture dates from the early 20th century.

The kitchen is at the rear of the main building. It can be accessed through the rear hall, but also has doors to the Golden Room, the Lord 's chamber and into a small hallway, through which the Porcelain Room can be achieved. Large windows can be seen in the yard. The kitchen is rich in color, as it was in the late Baroque usual. At the last restoration of the room was rebuilt in the 18th century style again: with purple walls, light blue window sills, doors and trim and light green ocher and reddish-brown deposits. A large fireplace, which was used for preparation of food, dominates the room.

The Porcelain Room in the east wing is located behind the master bedroom and was established in 1796 by Herman Didrich Janson. After the restoration the original colors of the walls were made in gray and green again. The rich inventory was sold or inherited over time. A buffet service of the Royal Copenhagen porcelain factory that was purchased in 1798, can be visited. It includes several glass pieces, including a punch bowl, originally Danckert Danckertsen Krohn belonged.

The ballroom is located on the second floor of the main building. It is equipped with doors and a chandelier in the Rococo style. The walls are decorated with dark draperies, various portraits and mirrors. The furniture is from the 18th century. The gilded leather upholstery of the chairs testify how rich must have been the inhabitants of the house.

Landscaping

The garden of the manor house is divided into three areas: the Eastern garden - Mr. garden called the Western garden - a woman named garden and English garden. The woman gardening and the Lord garden surrounded with walls that are to keep out the wind and keep the heat. Immediately behind the house, away from the sea, is located across the road, the English Garden. The garden was created with the award Årets grønne park ( Green park of the year) honored 1999.

The restoration of the men's and women's garden was conducted by the Leisure Department of the Commune mountains according to the plans of the Swedish landscape architect Sven -Ingvar Andersson. The garden was completed on August 25, 1988 before the reopening of the house. The aim of the restoration was to restore the garden so as it looked in the 18th century, both the then common plants as well as garden architecture. Botanist at the University of Bergen chose ornamental and useful plants that were currently cultivated most likely. Selected were roses and crops such as cabbage and onions, but also a collection of herbs of thyme, mint and sage. The garden is adorned with several statues. There are copies of contemporary garden art. In the eastern garden stood a statue of Neptune, in the western one by Mercury. They symbolize seafaring and trade, the livelihood of the city of Bergen.

The Lord garden has a strict geometric design with six squares and an avenue of yew. The roads are made of white gravel.

The woman gardening follows less stringent architectural lines as the eastern garden. There is a duck pond and a carp pond. The duck pond is located in one axis with the window of the women's bedroom. This cross- axis runs through the whole house to Mr. garden where the statue of Neptune Water bubbles in a small basin.

The English Garden was probably founded in the 18th century in a semicircular shape with linden trees. It was not until 1830, he was transformed into an English landscape garden and got a bridge over the creek, a pond with creepers and paths. This garden was also restored and is open all year round.

Restoration

The comprehensive restoration in 1983 was held in collaboration with the Riksantikvaren headed by Miljøverndepartement. The conservation work led by the architectural firm Hansteen. The restoration started immediately after the acquisition of the manor of the family Janson.

Before the restoration, the house was inspected, secured and assessed with regard to the future role as a museum. When the work began, the damage to the supporting structure and the foundations proved to be more serious than first thought. The first five years were spent with it, the roof and walls to fix and stabilize the house as a whole. Instead of replacing the design simple, the main objective was the restoration, they receive as much as possible and to repair only the defect sites. So many parts of the building are still in its original. Besides the necessary structural measures also started the restoration work, directed by Jon Brænne. All surfaces of the house were thoroughly investigated and different layers wallpaper and gold coatings were removed. During this work, specifically a caretaker's house was set up in the west wing of the house.

The walls of some rooms were painted in the prior art at that time, others have been provided with copies of former wallpaper. It made ​​the different rooms to life so that they represent different periods of the history of the house. Visitors to the Museum will be noted in all the rooms on the earlier paintings and tapestries. The restoration, as well as securing work was one of the largest in Norway.