Benjamin Asmussen
@benjamin-asmussen.bsky.social
Maritime historian & Senior Researcher @National Museum of Denmark interested in global connections - especially early modern Danish-Norwegian trading companies and their encounters.
Beautiful exhibition of the 18th century Danish portrait artist Jens Juel has just opened at the art museum Brandts in Odense, Denmark.
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
February 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Beautiful exhibition of the 18th century Danish portrait artist Jens Juel has just opened at the art museum Brandts in Odense, Denmark.
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
How it can sometimes feel to be a maritime historian - constantly having to defend the importance of ships, shipping and sailors :-)
#maritimehistory
#maritimehistory
February 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
How it can sometimes feel to be a maritime historian - constantly having to defend the importance of ships, shipping and sailors :-)
#maritimehistory
#maritimehistory
Reposted by Benjamin Asmussen
An exciting (and timely!) job for someone - Senior Researcher in Arctic Cultures and Cultural Heritage at the National Museum of Denmark. Deadline is 17th February: www.researchgate.net/job/1018407_...
SENIOR RESEARCHER IN ARCTIC CULTURES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE at The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, DENMARK
Jan 6, 2025 | National Museum of Denmark Senior Researcher in Arctic Cultures and Cultural Heritage The National Museum of Denmark (NMD) invites applications... | NEW JOB
www.researchgate.net
January 30, 2025 at 1:02 PM
An exciting (and timely!) job for someone - Senior Researcher in Arctic Cultures and Cultural Heritage at the National Museum of Denmark. Deadline is 17th February: www.researchgate.net/job/1018407_...
Reposted by Benjamin Asmussen
📢 New Open access article
At the Baltic gate: Copenhagen's role in international shipping in the latter half of the eighteenth century by Yrjö Kaukiainen
In the late 18th C. Copenhagen was the second biggest urban centre in the Baltic Sea area.
Read the article here - doi.org/10.1177/0843...
At the Baltic gate: Copenhagen's role in international shipping in the latter half of the eighteenth century by Yrjö Kaukiainen
In the late 18th C. Copenhagen was the second biggest urban centre in the Baltic Sea area.
Read the article here - doi.org/10.1177/0843...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
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doi.org
January 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM
📢 New Open access article
At the Baltic gate: Copenhagen's role in international shipping in the latter half of the eighteenth century by Yrjö Kaukiainen
In the late 18th C. Copenhagen was the second biggest urban centre in the Baltic Sea area.
Read the article here - doi.org/10.1177/0843...
At the Baltic gate: Copenhagen's role in international shipping in the latter half of the eighteenth century by Yrjö Kaukiainen
In the late 18th C. Copenhagen was the second biggest urban centre in the Baltic Sea area.
Read the article here - doi.org/10.1177/0843...
Had the pleasure of examining three of my museums wonderful figures of Danish-Norwegian supercargoes, created by a Chinese facemaker-artist in Canton in 1731.
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
January 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Had the pleasure of examining three of my museums wonderful figures of Danish-Norwegian supercargoes, created by a Chinese facemaker-artist in Canton in 1731.
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
I am researching five large paintings, that I believe were painted in 18th cent. Canton by Chinese artists. So far, I have found the copperplates the paintings were painted after for four paintings, but I still need the last one. It shows Kronborg in Elsinore, but what was it painted after?
January 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I am researching five large paintings, that I believe were painted in 18th cent. Canton by Chinese artists. So far, I have found the copperplates the paintings were painted after for four paintings, but I still need the last one. It shows Kronborg in Elsinore, but what was it painted after?
The old symbols of seafaring, trade and wealth are everywhere in central Copenhagen, visible if you just look up!
January 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The old symbols of seafaring, trade and wealth are everywhere in central Copenhagen, visible if you just look up!
Near the ancient cathedral in Lund in southern Sweden after a sunny winter’s day. Such a beautiful town!
January 2, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Near the ancient cathedral in Lund in southern Sweden after a sunny winter’s day. Such a beautiful town!
A naval battle adorns this table clock from the 1650’s at the National Museum of Denmark. But the master engraver must have looked at an older image for inspiration, as the ship looks more 1500s to me - what do you think?
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
December 17, 2024 at 8:09 PM
A naval battle adorns this table clock from the 1650’s at the National Museum of Denmark. But the master engraver must have looked at an older image for inspiration, as the ship looks more 1500s to me - what do you think?
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
The English musician Darby Scott playing at the court of king Christian IV of Denmark & Norway.
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
December 12, 2024 at 4:24 PM
The English musician Darby Scott playing at the court of king Christian IV of Denmark & Norway.
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
An American naval brig drying sails, likely in Danish waters. Painted by C.W. Eckersberg in 1831/32. The painting belongs to the museum SMK in Copenhagen.
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
December 10, 2024 at 9:37 AM
An American naval brig drying sails, likely in Danish waters. Painted by C.W. Eckersberg in 1831/32. The painting belongs to the museum SMK in Copenhagen.
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
Visited colleagues today in a section of the National Museum I have never been to before. Quite a nice view from their offices :-)
#copenhagen #christiansborg
#copenhagen #christiansborg
December 5, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Visited colleagues today in a section of the National Museum I have never been to before. Quite a nice view from their offices :-)
#copenhagen #christiansborg
#copenhagen #christiansborg
1k followers already, thank you!
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
December 3, 2024 at 3:17 PM
1k followers already, thank you!
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
For the Danish-speakers here:
Still a few spots left for three public lectures in Copenhagen about Danish maritime and colonial history the coming three Mondays:
fuau.dk/emdrup/progr...
#maritimehistory #danmarkshistorie
Still a few spots left for three public lectures in Copenhagen about Danish maritime and colonial history the coming three Mondays:
fuau.dk/emdrup/progr...
#maritimehistory #danmarkshistorie
Dansken på de syv have
Da Christian 4. i 1618 sender admiral Ove Gjedde mod Ceylon på Danmarks første kolonieventyr, er det startskuddet til over 400 års dansk handel og søfart i de fjerneste egne af verden.
De oversøiske f...
fuau.dk
November 28, 2024 at 12:16 PM
For the Danish-speakers here:
Still a few spots left for three public lectures in Copenhagen about Danish maritime and colonial history the coming three Mondays:
fuau.dk/emdrup/progr...
#maritimehistory #danmarkshistorie
Still a few spots left for three public lectures in Copenhagen about Danish maritime and colonial history the coming three Mondays:
fuau.dk/emdrup/progr...
#maritimehistory #danmarkshistorie
Reposted by Benjamin Asmussen
Should Royal Monkeys Wear Sweaters During the Winter? 🐒❄️ This question was asked by Olof von Dalin in a letter to Carl Linnaeus, as he was worried that the Queen's monkeys were struggling with the cold. Translated here by @nataliesmith.bsky.social #SvHist #EarlyModern scilicet.org.uk/should-royal...
Should Royal Monkeys Wear Sweaters During the Winter? | Scilicet
This was a question posed by Swedish nobleman Olof von Dalin to the botanist Carl von Linné in 1762, as he was worried that the Queen's monkeys were struggling to withstand the nordic winters.
scilicet.org.uk
November 25, 2024 at 9:55 AM
Should Royal Monkeys Wear Sweaters During the Winter? 🐒❄️ This question was asked by Olof von Dalin in a letter to Carl Linnaeus, as he was worried that the Queen's monkeys were struggling with the cold. Translated here by @nataliesmith.bsky.social #SvHist #EarlyModern scilicet.org.uk/should-royal...
The captain of the first direct ship from Copenhagen to China 1730-32 was the Norwegian war-hero Michael Tønder.
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
November 25, 2024 at 10:21 AM
The captain of the first direct ship from Copenhagen to China 1730-32 was the Norwegian war-hero Michael Tønder.
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
“The morning after the Swedish Assault on Copenhagen 1659” painted by the Danish artist Christian Mølsted, 1919.
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
November 23, 2024 at 2:42 PM
“The morning after the Swedish Assault on Copenhagen 1659” painted by the Danish artist Christian Mølsted, 1919.
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
Bringing in the beer for weekend!
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
November 22, 2024 at 6:28 PM
Bringing in the beer for weekend!
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
Sounds very interesting - are you going? :-)
Call for papers for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures International Conference @portsmouthuni, 10-11 June 2025. Submit your 300-word abstract by 19 January 2025 to pcmc@port.ac.uk for @UoP_Maritime's inaugural conference
www.port.ac.uk/news-events-...
Call for Papers: Port Cities and Maritime Cultures International Conference, 10-11 June 2025
The Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures is holding its inaugural conference (10-11 June 2025) at the University of Portsmouth.
www.port.ac.uk
November 21, 2024 at 10:24 PM
Sounds very interesting - are you going? :-)
The Danish Asiatic Company (1730-1844) was extremely profitable with its monopoly on Danish-Norwegian trade in Asia.
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
November 21, 2024 at 9:14 PM
The Danish Asiatic Company (1730-1844) was extremely profitable with its monopoly on Danish-Norwegian trade in Asia.
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
Quite a bit of #maritimehistory in there as well!
For all my Danish speaking colleagues and people interested in (cooperate) capitalism I can highly recommend the new and final volume on the history of Danish capitalism by @jeppenevers and Per Boje. It’s a magnificent account of how Denmark became prosperous.
www.universitypress.dk/shop/vejen-t...
www.universitypress.dk/shop/vejen-t...
Vejen til velstand (III) - Kapitalismen og det moderne Danmark (2 bd.)
Vejen til velstand - Kapitalismen og det moderne Danmark (I-II). Tiden 1930-2020. Per Boje, Jeppe Nevers. ISBN 978-87-408-3425-3. University of Southern Denmark Studies in History and Social Sciences,...
www.universitypress.dk
November 21, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Quite a bit of #maritimehistory in there as well!
A warm library (with ladders!) is a great place to be on a cold day. The Ethnographic Library at the National Museum of Denmark covers the whole world and has not failed me yet!
November 20, 2024 at 3:43 PM
A warm library (with ladders!) is a great place to be on a cold day. The Ethnographic Library at the National Museum of Denmark covers the whole world and has not failed me yet!
A favorite object at the Nat. Mus. of Denmark is this large painting of tea prod. in China.
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
November 19, 2024 at 9:35 AM
A favorite object at the Nat. Mus. of Denmark is this large painting of tea prod. in China.
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
A new Starter Pack of Danish historians - let me know if you want to be added.
As you might notice, there is a bit of a gender unequality in the Pack, so please help if you can :-)
As you might notice, there is a bit of a gender unequality in the Pack, so please help if you can :-)
November 18, 2024 at 8:50 PM
A new Starter Pack of Danish historians - let me know if you want to be added.
As you might notice, there is a bit of a gender unequality in the Pack, so please help if you can :-)
As you might notice, there is a bit of a gender unequality in the Pack, so please help if you can :-)
On the very first direct sea voyage between Denmark and China 1730-32, cadet Hans Schumacher painted the company ship CRON PRINTZ CHRISTIAN - a former Swedish warship - on the front of his journal, surrounded by Chinese decorations.
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?
November 18, 2024 at 2:07 PM
On the very first direct sea voyage between Denmark and China 1730-32, cadet Hans Schumacher painted the company ship CRON PRINTZ CHRISTIAN - a former Swedish warship - on the front of his journal, surrounded by Chinese decorations.
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?