Minneapolis Review

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will present a new exhibition titled “Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway” from November 15, 2025, through March 8, 2026. The exhibition is free to the public and is organized in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and KODE Bergen Art Museum.

The show features 150 objects that trace three centuries of Norwegian silversmithing. These include silver vessels, enameled silver pieces, bridal crowns, tankards, and domestic wares. The works on display range from the Baroque period to the late 19th-century Viking Revival style.

“Bergen may be a small city on the northern edge of Europe, but it produced works of extraordinary craftsmanship across six centuries,” said Max Bryant, James Ford Bell Associate Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture at Mia. “This exhibition highlights the artistry of individual silversmiths as well as the social and economic stories embedded in every piece—from the rural tradition of bridal crowns to Viking Revival silver that asserted national pride. We’re also excited to show one of the most popular works in Mia’s collection—the tapestry of the Wise and Foolish Virgins—woven in Norway in the 17th century and rarely displayed due to light sensitivity.”

The exhibition places Bergen as an important center for trade and culture. It shows how foreign coins brought into Bergen were melted down by local artisans to create silver artworks. Among the highlights are Viking ships by Marius Hammer, enameled silver objects combining historical motifs with detailed craftsmanship, a Hanseatic beaker from the 17th century, and other items reflecting Bergen’s role in global commerce.

A Norwegian dowry chest from Mia’s collection is included to illustrate how silver functioned both as art and investment. Such chests were sometimes repurposed by Norwegian emigrants moving to the United States as a way to preserve wealth and cultural identity.

“Crowning the North is a celebration of human creativity, craftsmanship, and the enduring stories that objects can tell,” said Katie Luber, Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director and President of Mia. “We are thrilled to offer visitors the chance to experience the evolution of Norwegian silver while reflecting on the broader connections of trade, migration, and cultural heritage that resonate today.”

Visitors will find immersive elements such as wall-sized prints depicting 17th-century Bergen and an audio installation featuring Aasmund Vinje’s poem Spring set to music by Edvard Grieg. This recording was performed by the Minnesota Orchestra. The exhibition aims for visitors to engage visually, aurally, and intellectually with themes including value, identity, and trade.

Highlighted pieces include:

- A Hanseatic beaker from around 1550 showing Bergen’s involvement in international trade.

- The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins tapestry from 17th-century Norway.

- Centerpieces created by Marius Hammer in 1888 exemplifying Viking Revival style.

- Enameled Viking boats by Marius Hammer made around 1900.

- An epergne crafted by Emil Høye in 1901 demonstrating influences from Art Nouveau design.

The exhibition will take place at Mia’s Mary Agnes and Al McQuinn Gallery (350). More information about this event or other exhibitions can be found at www.artsmia.org.

Mia holds over 100,000 works spanning 5,000 years of world history. General admission is always free; some special exhibitions may have a nominal fee.

For further details or inquiries about visiting hours or programs at Mia visit www.artsmia.org or call +1 612 870 3000.