MINNEAPOLIS, MN.- The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) presents “Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway.” This free exhibition on view from November 15, 2025, through March 8, 2026, traces three centuries of Norwegian silversmithing from the refined elegance of the Baroque period to the dramatic Viking Revival of the late 19th century. Organized in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and KODE Bergen Art Museum, the exhibition features 150 objects, including silver vessels, enameled silver, bridal crowns, tankards, and domestic wares, revealing how Norwegian artisans expressed identity, wealth, and cultural pride through their craft.

“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,” said Max Bryant, James Ford Bell Associate Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture at Mia. “Bergen may be a small city on the northern edge of Europe, but it produced works of extraordinary craftsmanship across six centuries. 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 situates Bergen as a global crossroads, into which poured the foreign coins that were melted down to produce works in silver. Visitors will encounter fantastical Viking ships by Marius Hammer, enameled silver masterpieces blending historical motifs with intricate craftsmanship, alongside a 17th-century Hanseatic beaker, and other decorative objects that illuminate the city’s mercantile and cultural history. A Norwegian dowry chest from Mia’s collection illustrates how silver served as both an artistic and material investment, later repurposed by emigrants to the United States to preserve wealth and identity across continents.

“‘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.”

The exhibition also includes immersive elements to bring Bergen’s history to life, including wall-sized prints of 17th-century Bergen and an audio experience featuring Aasmund Vinje’s poem Spring set to music by Edvard Grieg, recorded by the Minnesota Orchestra. Visitors are invited to engage with the exhibition visually, aurally, and intellectually, exploring themes of value, identity, and trade through objects of remarkable material and artistic significance.

Exhibition Highlights

• Hanseatic beaker, c. 1550—Reflects Bergen’s role in the Hanseatic League and the city’s integration into a global trading network.

• Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins tapestry, 17th century—Offers a rare glimpse of the colors and textiles that would have surrounded early silver objects.

• Centerpiece, Marius Hammer, 1888—Exemplifies the Viking Revival style, celebrating national identity.

• Viking boats, Marius Hammer, c. 1900—Enameled silver, blending intricate filigree with national pride.

• Epergne, Emil Høye, 1901—Demonstrates the transition to Art Nouveau and the influence of international design.