The David Collection

C. L. David was a lawyer who collected privately and left his house and holdings as a public foundation, and the result is one of the quieter pleasures of Copenhagen: a nineteenth-century townhouse facing the King's Garden, entered free, holding a collection of Islamic art that is among the most important in northern Europe. It runs from Spain to India across thirteen centuries, with ceramics, glass, metalwork, carpets, ivories, jewellery, weapons and an outstanding group of illuminated manuscripts and calligraphy, arranged both by region and by material across several floors. Two smaller collections sit alongside: European eighteenth-century decorative art and furniture in the founder's own rooms, and Danish early modern art. The lighting and labelling are unusually good.

History

The building at Kronprinsessegade 30 was bought in 1810 by C. N. David, great-grandfather of the lawyer and collector C. L. David, and sold again in 1830; C. L. David bought it back in 1917, lived in it and opened his collection to the public on the upper floors. Around 1920 the architect Carl Petersen rebuilt the top floor with skylit galleries, panelled in oak from King Christian VI's dock, broken up in 1918, and in 1928 Kaare Klint designed two rooms for the porcelain collection whose cases are still in use for the Islamic collection. On 12 December 1945 the collection and building became the C. L. David Foundation and Collection, the museum opened in 1948, and on David's death in 1960 the foundation inherited his fortune. In 1986 it bought the neighbouring house, where Vilhelm Wohlert designed a gallery for Islamic miniatures in 1990, and after a major refurbishment from 2006 the museum reopened on 15 May 2009; admission is free (Wikipedia, The David Collection).

What to look for

• Islamic art from Spain to India - thirteen centuries across several floors.
• Illuminated manuscripts - calligraphy and painting of the first rank.
• The founder's European rooms - eighteenth-century furniture in situ.
• A free museum - no charge at any time.

When to go

Year round. Two hours. Closed Mondays. It is rarely crowded, and because it is free you can come twice. The King's Garden opposite is a good pairing in summer.

What to expect

It is spread over several floors of a townhouse with stairs and small rooms, which limits accessibility. The Islamic collection is dense and rewards slow looking rather than a quick pass. There is no cafe. Bags must be left at the entrance.

Nearby

Rosenborg Castle and the King's Garden face it; Designmuseum Danmark is a short walk.

Key facts