Mirror, boxes and jewellery

Narrator: 

In the autumn of 1762, 22-year-old Helene Cathrine Büchler is a bride. She is dressed in a beautiful light silk dress sprinkled with silk embroidery. The groom's name is Mogens Larsen Monsen and they are both from very wealthy families. When the bride wakes up the morning after the wedding, she receives this valuable jewellery box as a gift. 

Janne Arnesen: 

This is the bride's morning gift – the one she received after the wedding, both as a welcome into the family, and as economic security for the future. 

Narrator: 

This is Janne Arnesen, art historian at the National Museum. 

Janne Arnesen: 

What we actually are looking at is a wooden case that contains silver boxes and a silver mirror. Also, it keeps two magnificent jewellery sets. Everything you need to look good in the 1750s and 1760s. 

You see a silver jewellery set, with cut rock crystal, so that they imitate diamonds and would sparkle wonderfully in candlelight. You also see a necklace, earrings, shoe buckles and buttons that you could sew into your hair or sew on your clothes temporarily. 

Narrator: 

The other content of the jewellery box is laid out on the left side; the mirror, the hand fan, brooches and four small ovals. 

Janne Arnesen: 

These ovals have a fastening on the back, which indicates that they have been used as bracelets. They would be attached to, perhaps a black velvet band, and were worn on the wrist, so that everyone could see them. 

Narrator: 

One oval has a portrait of a man, with powdered hair and a red cloak, surrounded by 4 small light blue flowers… 

Janne Arnesen: 

It is an image of Johan Georg Büchler, the bride's deceased father - and therefore surrounded by forget-me-not flowers. This way, you could always look down at your hand, and remember. 

Narrator: 

And now, the museum commemorates Helene Cathrine Büchler and all these pieces of jewellery that were once close to her skin and life.