Den Kongelige Afstøbningssamling

About the museum

The Royal Cast Collection goes back to the art historian Julius Lange and the brewer Carl Jacobsen, who wanted to make the main works of sculpture accessible to everyone. With casts from over 110 European workshops and holdings of the Art Academy, it opened in 1898 together with the new museum on Sølvgade, today's SMK, and filled almost the entire ground floor there. About three quarters of the casts show works of Greek and Roman antiquity; the rest come mainly from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with Michelangelo as the high point.

In the 20th century, plaster copies lost esteem and were gradually removed in favor of originals. In 1966 the collection was moved to a leaky barn in Ledøje, where about a quarter of the pieces were lost. In 1984 it was rescued, restored, and reinstalled in the Vestindisk Pakhus at the harbor, a warehouse built in 1779–81 that originally stored coffee.

Since then the collection has had to close several times because of austerity measures. Today it has no regular opening hours, but is accessible at special events and by arrangement. With about 2,000 casts, it is among the largest and best-preserved collections of its kind in Europe and invites reflection on the canon, original and copy, and the colonial history of the building.

Highlights

• About 2,000 plaster casts on several floors
• Casts of the main works of Greek and Roman antiquity
• Renaissance casts including works by Michelangelo
• Historic warehouse from 1779–81 at the harbor

Founded

1895

Operated by

SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst

Admission & discounts

No regular individual admission; visits are charged as a flat rate per group. Small professional visits (1–15 people) by arrangement with the museum.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Elevator to all floors.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 150 guests.

For smaller events such as receptions, meetings, and team building, as well as for photo and film shoots; security staff must be booked separately, and candles are not allowed. At times not available for rental.

Plan your visit