On 19 June, Gavnø opened its new special exhibition, A Ball at the Castle. Set within the castle's most beautiful state rooms, the exhibition presents 33 headpieces and hair ornaments, most of them created especially for the exhibition by some of Denmark's leading goldsmiths and jewellery designers.
The exhibition is curated in collaboration with jewellery writer Nina Hald and goldsmith Bodil Binner. It draws on today's renewed fascination with balls and tiaras, seen everywhere from the worldwide success of Netflix's Bridgerton to the graceful ballerinas waltzing through the magnificent rooms of Schönbrunn Palace during the annual broadcast of Vienna's traditional New Year's Concert.
Head ornaments – including tiaras, diadems, hair clips, pins and combs – take many different forms and are, both literally and symbolically, the crowning touch for life's most special occasions. No other type of jewellery so clearly represents power, status and wealth, and the tiara remains closely associated with royalty and tradition. But what does a contemporary headpiece look like?
From 19 June, Gavnø Castle offers a spectacular answer. The exhibition explores how this unique category of jewellery is interpreted today while giving visitors the opportunity to experience exceptional craftsmanship at its finest.
The exhibition runs until 15 November 2026. Learn more about the exhibition here (in Danish), and learn more about the works here.
