The Silver Room is the museum's treasure trove. Under the blue arches, the silver of the Sami glitters. Wealth and prosperity hidden in collars and belts, cows, cups and spoons.
The Silvermuseet's collection of Sámi silver is the largest of its kind, comprising nearly 700 individual objects from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Magnificent silver collars crown the exhibition and the gilded ornaments of the belts sparkle in the display cases.
The fact that the silver is labeled as Sami means that it is, or has been, in Sami ownership. But it is also the case that some objects, such as the huts, have an appearance that is typical of the Sami idiom. The silver collars are an example of a Sami way of incorporating silver into the costume, and certain forms of ornamentation, such as the braided ornamentation, can be said to be typically Sami. All in all, this makes it possible to speak of Sami silver as a separate category.
Payment for Sami reindeer skins and reindeer cheese, furs and dried fish could be axes and knives, pots, salt and flour, hemp and wadding. If the trade made a profit, they invested in silver.
The silver of the festive costume reflected success in reindeer husbandry and trade. Splendid silver belts and richly decorated silver collars served as status symbols, and the weight of the silver cosmos commanded respect. The silver could be counted in reindeer. Fifteen to twenty reindeer for one silver belt. Wealth, security and safety could be measured in silver.
Silver was also thought to protect against evil spirits. For example, silver beads sewn into the woven bands over the cradle, the gietkam, protected the small child from malevolent forces. The tinkling of the small pendants and rings that often appear on silver balls, spoons and boxes and jewelry, would also keep the evil forces at bay.
Pictures from the exhibition
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