The Chinese Pavilion, Historic royal pavilion in Drottningholm, Sweden
The Chinese Pavilion is an 18th-century building set within the Drottningholm Palace grounds, featuring distinctive red lacquered walls and intricate wooden carvings. Inside, period furnishings, porcelain, and decorative objects show how European craftspeople of that era interpreted East Asian forms.
A king commissioned the building in 1753 as a birthday gift for his wife, though it was not completed until 1769. This extended construction period allowed designers and craftspeople to carefully incorporate the European fascination with East Asia into every detail.
The building reflects the 18th-century fascination with East Asian design, visible in its bright red walls and detailed wooden decorations throughout. As you walk through the rooms, you see how European craftsmen interpreted Chinese style in furnishings and ornaments.
The building is open to visitors during the warmer months, and tours help you understand the collections and rooms inside. Keep in mind that some areas have steps and the outdoor grounds can become muddy during wet weather.
In a nearby building, ingenious tables could lift dishes from below, allowing the royal ladies to dine in privacy without servants present. This hidden mechanism reveals how much the court valued comfort and discretion at mealtimes.
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