Döderhultarmuseet

About the museum

Döderhultarmuseet is an artists’ museum in the Kulturhuset (cultural centre) in Oskarshamn, showing works by the woodcarver Axel Petersson, known as Döderhultarn. He was born in 1868 in Döderhults socken (parish) but lived and worked all his adult life in Oskarshamn. The breakthrough came in 1909, and within a few years his roughly hewn wooden figures, with their melancholy charm, had conquered Europe; he was world-famous when he died in 1925.

The Föreningen Döderhultarmuseet (Döderhultarmuseet Association) was formed in 1911, while the artist was still alive, to buy and preserve some of his sculptures, and in June the same year the town’s first Döderhultarmuseum opened in modest premises. The town’s local heritage society (hembygdsförening) then took over responsibility. After several moves, the collection came in 1976 to the newly built Kulturhuset, and the museum was renovated in 2011.

The museum shows a unique collection of nearly 200 of Döderhultarn’s best sculptures, with motifs such as the cattle from the farm of his childhood home, särlingar (eccentrics) from Oskarshamn’s streets, and charged situations from the Småland of the turn of the previous century. Many works take the side of ordinary people.

On the same museum floor of the Kulturhuset is the Sjöfartsmuseet (maritime museum), which tells of Oskarshamn’s maritime history with ship models, navigation equipment and crafts, and the photographic exhibition Ögonblick från Oscarshamn (Moments from Oscarshamn). The three parts share a common entrance and opening hours.

Highlights

• Nearly 200 wooden sculptures by Döderhultarn
• Sjöfartsmuseet with ship models and navigation equipment
• Children’s corner with the galley and wheelhouse of the vessel Thyra
• Photographic exhibition Ögonblick från Oscarshamn (Moments from Oscarshamn)
• Döderhultarn’s preserved home and studio nearby (open via the local heritage society)

Permanent exhibitions

• Döderhultarmuseet – Unique collection of nearly 200 of the woodcarver Döderhultarn’s best sculptures.
• Sjöfartsmuseet – Oskarshamn’s maritime history with ship models, navigation equipment, specialised crafts and a children’s corner.
• Ögonblick från Oscarshamn – Photographic exhibition with events from the town’s history.

Founded

1911

Operated by

Oskarshamns kommun

Admission & discounts

The admission ticket is valid for both Döderhultarmuseet and Sjöfartsmuseet. School visits by schools in Oskarshamn Municipality are free of charge.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

In the Sjöfartsmuseet there is a large children’s corner where children can cook food in the galley of the Thyra, steer the ship and try pirate costumes, life jackets and maritime toys.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Kulturhuset in central Oskarshamn, at the corner of Södra Långgatan and Hantverksgatan.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Premises in the Kulturhuset can be hired for meetings, conferences and lectures.

Plan your visit