The inventories from 1690 and1737 Our knowledge regarding the content and classification of the Kunstkammer stems from the inventories - registers - that were drawn up whenever a new Keeper took over the position. The outgoing keeper or his estate was responsible for each and every object in the collection. The 1690 inventory This inventory resulted from the change of keeper in 1690, when the older Grodtschilling died. Strangely enough, with the next change in 1707 on the death of the younger Grodtschilling, nothing appears in the Kunstkammer archives, either in the form of a new inventory or lists of acquisitions and disposals. This may be due to the fact that the youngest Grodtschilling had already been working in collaboration with his father for some years, so that this was not so much a transfer of responsibility as a continuation of an ongoing function. In 1737 appears the last complete inventory of the Kunstkammer. The inventories of 1690 and 1737 indicate that the principles utilized for the arrangement in the new building followed closely those applying to Frederik III's original Kunstkammer at Copenhagen Castle. The 1737 inventory The captions allotted to the different chambers provide a clear indication of their systematic arrangement: Title page of the 1737 inventory (National Museum) The Chamber of Medals contained antique and modern coins and medals together with a quantity of paintings. The Natural Chamber with numerous rarities of Nature and peculiar products, as well as a few which were of human creation. The Artificial Chamber contained manufactured items - paintings, sculptures and works turned on the lathe - in metal, wood, bone, amber, wax and so forth. The Indian Chamber contained objects brought back from China, the East Indies and other distant regions. The Chamber of Antiquities with antiques, Nordic archaeological specimens, weapons, optical and mechanical instruments as well as paintings. The Chamber of Heroes contained the portraits of royalty and other illustrious personalities - painted, or of wax. The Gallery Chamber was reserved for the works of renowned artists of both modern and ancient schools. The Perspective Chamber with perspective boxes and trompe l'oeil paintings. The Model Chamber with models of civil and military architectural works. The Artificial-Anatomy Chamber with anatomical masterpieces. The Ante-Chamber. . To previous page The inventories 1690-1827 To next page The keepers of the Kunstkammer 1690-1825