THE DAVID COLLECTION

This gem of a private collection invites you to explore older European arts and crafts, newer Danish art and one of the top-ten collections of Islamic art in the Western world.

A door knock of bronze, which looks like a lion with a ring and with a rooster in the mouth, Sicily, 11th century.

A Special Journey Through the World of Art

The David Collection is a true gem of a museum, in which a very special journey through art history awaits you.

Immediately upon entering the sumptuous house, you can feel the long history of the place. The special atmosphere of time preserved is hardly surprising, given that The David Collection is housed in the very property where its founder, Supreme Court Attorney C.L. David, lived a hundred years ago.

The collection is wide-ranging in scope: From European 18th-century furniture and crafts to more recent Danish art, including works by Vilhelm Hammershøi and J.F. Willumsen – and more than 1,000 years of world-class Islamic art from the 600s to the 1800s.

Exhibitions at the David Collection

At the museum, you can explore three permanent collections: Islamic Art, European 18th-century Art, and Danish Early Modern Art.

The collection of older European art is home to a rich selection of art and artefacts from the 18th and 19th centuries – furniture, French and German porcelain, Danish faience and silverware as well as Danish, Dutch and French paintings.

The collection of Danish Early Modern Art comprises paintings and sculptures created by Danish artists in the period 1880 to 1950.

The museum’s changing special exhibitions are also well worth a look, presenting prominent works and objects from Denmark and abroad. From the spring of 2022, the museum’s Vilhelm Hammershøi works from the collection of Danish Early Modern Art will be presented in a room of their own on the second floor..

World-class Collection of Islamic Art

A particular highlight of The David Collection is the collection of Islamic Art, which is by far the largest of its kind in Scandinavia and is considered among the top ten in the Western world. Don’t miss it!

Here you can view works spanning many centuries and all artistic media, hailing from virtually every part of the classical Islamic world, from Spain in the west to India in the east. The exhibits cover a period ranging from the 7th to the 19th century.

The Museum Shop

The small museum shop by the entrance to the David Collection offers a fine selection of posters, postcards and magnets depicting exhibits from the collections.

You can also extend your museum experience by purchasing magazines or books, including publications written and created by the museum’s own staff.

When visiting The David Collection on a Parkmuseerne ticket, you can enjoy a 10% discount in the museum shop on the day of your visit.