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Copenhagen 1933

Replica of Harald Bluetooth’s rune stone in Hvidovre. Photo: Torben Dehn.
Replica of Harald Bluetooth’s rune stone in Hvidovre. Photo: Torben Dehn.

A replica of Harald Bluetooth’s rune stone in Jelling stood in one of the courtyards of the National Museum up until 1990. The colours of the stone were reconstructed by the art historian R. Broby-Johansen. He chose the colours, which were probably all available in the Viking Age – black, white, yellow, red and blue. Some of them are seen on fragments of carved wood excavated from the burial chamber in the North Mound at Jelling.

 

When the replica was moved from the National Museum, a message dating to 1933 was found cursing those who dared to move it. This is completely in keeping with what we know about the rune stones of the Viking Age. The replica was sold to a building contractor and today can be seen at Hvidovrevej in Copenhagen, close to Friheden Stationscenter.

 

”Broby-Johansen’s replica” in the Palace courtyard of the National Museum. Photo: the National Museum.
”Broby-Johansen’s replica” in the Palace courtyard of the National Museum. Photo: the National Museum.
Replica of Harald Bluetooth’s rune stone in Hvidovre. Photo: Torben Dehn.
Replica of Harald Bluetooth’s rune stone in Hvidovre. Photo: Torben Dehn.