Exhibitions in 2010

The Permanent Exhibition

Open all year The Manor Museum's permanent exhibition is based on the architecture of the house itself and its room interiors, which are laid out to show what life at the manor was like at different periods in Danish history. The interiors include furniture, tapestries, porcelain and other exhibits. The museum also possesses a large collection of paintings connected with the history of the manor. These are on permanent display.

Poisonous Gossip or Deadly Diplomacy – the fate of the envoy in St Petersborg in 1771 – at Gammel Estrup – the Manor Museum

In 1768 at the age of 25, Christen count Scheel, the heir of the manor Gammel Estrup, was sent on an important and dangerous mission as the Danish envoy at the court of Katharina the Great (1762-1796)  in St Petersborg. In a period with increasing political tensions between the powerful Russia and the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, Christen Scheel was capable of mastering the difficult brinkmanship of working for the changing interests of his home country as well as winning the confidence of the unpredictable empress, and this at a court which was characterized by intrigues, corruption and gossip. Perhaps Christen Scheel was simply too successful? Following his growing esteem with the empress his political rivals and her countless number of lovers became envious. According to gossip, this disapproval lead to the death of Christen Scheel. Was his death willful murder or just a common appendicitis? With the temporary exhibition Poisonous Gossip or Deadly Diplomacy Gammel Estrup – the Manor Museum wants to bring into focus Christen count Scheel’s life and work in the capital of Russia until his sudden death in 1771.

Exhibition of dresses

Dream dresses and dreams of dresses

On March 20^th, the exhibition “Dream dresses and dreams of dresses” opens with many magnificent dresses from the 1920’s to 1950’s.

The dresses once belonged to Astrid Countess Ahlefelt-Laurvig, who lived at the manor Eriksholm from 1936.

The dresses, which were tailored for the countess, are made of precious and exclusive materials such as thin French lace, heavy pure silk, pleated silk tulle, silk taffeta,  crepe de chine, silk organza, chiffon, pure silk satin, broderie anglaise and light Chantilly laces.