The Swedish Crown Princess Couple has had a busy January, and they are finishing out the month strong.
Early this week, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visited Bergmans Konstgjuteri, the oldest operating foundry in Sweden.
The couple visited the Stockholm foundry to learn more about the art form and the very specific knowledge required for it. A foundry casts metal objects by pouring the liquid metal into casings of wax, ceramics, sand, or harder metals and letting it harden.
Bergmans Konstgjuteri was established in 1895 by Herman Bergman and remains one of the oldest Scandinavian foundries. Originally the foundry was in Norrmalm but moved to its current location in Enskede in the 1950s.
This foundry is known for using two specific techniques. The first, the cire-perdue, is when the liquid metal is poured into a wax mould that can be melted away once the metal has hardened. The second method is called sand moulding, with specific kinds of sand used that can be removed afterwards. During their tour, Their Royal Highnesses were able to see these methods in person.
Begmans Konstgjuteri has produced several notable Swedish pieces of art, including Europe and the Bull, Poseidon, and Orpheus by Carl Milles, and the Ådal Monument by Lenny Clarhälls.
The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel undertook the visit on behalf of Princess Estelle’s Cultural Foundation. The couple established the foundation in late 2019 on behalf of their daughter, Princess Estelle, to promote cultural activities in Sweden.
As the Princess Estelle Cultural Foundation website explains,
“The Foundation wants to make contemporary art available since it has been found that experiencing art can be beneficial to the individual and to society at large. To enrich our shared environment with contemporary art is not only about creating timeless monuments but also about inspiring discussions and contributing to a better quality of life for everyone in the longer perspective.”
