Words on Wednesday: Millesgården

Thistles and Kiwis

On Saturday we headed over to Millesgården, a wonderful sculpture park, gallery and museum, created by the sculptor Carl Milles and his artist wife Olga. As the website states “in 1907, Carl and Olga Milles purchased a plot on Herserudsklippan, high above Värtan on Lidingö. Their vision was to build a home with adjoining studios. The house was designed by architect Carl M. Bengtsson and completed in 1908. Over the next fifty years, Millesgården was expanded and developed in collaboration with Carl’s half-brother, architect Evert Milles“.

Getting there was a bit of an adventure as the Stockholm marathon was on and buses cancelled, but we got there eventually taking the tram from Ropsten and then walking uphill to the park. There was so much white lilac about, that it was quite a heady walk in the sunshine, with the scent everywhere. Anyway, we ate lunch first before exploring. Below you can see the main terrace area with the view over the water, and some of the wonderful sculptures up on their pillars.

Many of the sculptures draw their inspiration from classical literature, such as this one of a man with Pegasus and that of Poseidon. If you have been to Gothenburg, you may recognise this as that seen on Götaplatsen. I loved the face in the third picture below – a wise professor thinking of his next book?

The large main building on the Upper Terrace was the home and workplace of the Milles during the 1910s and 1920s. In the late 1930s, the house was opened to the public. You can also see a one-story house designed by Carl Milles’ brother, Evert Milles, completed in 1951 known as “Anne’s House”. The house’s interior was designed by designers Josef Frank and Estrid Ericson, and was home to Anne Hedmark, who worked for many years at Millesgården. For some reason, I did not take any pictures of the fabulous 1950s interiors, but there is an image on the website.

Anyway, here is a little statue of a skating girl on the way up to the house. The middle picture is also as you approach the house – I love the energy and vibrancy of this piece, of the three young men skimming over the water. Another work I really admired was this horse’s head, just outside the main house.

Below you can see the house, which is also a gallery and museum of works by both artists. There was a lovely breakfast room with views over the water that I would love to sit at. The middle picture if of works by Olga and the third of the wisteria outside the house.

There is also an art gallery, which was not showing anything interesting when we were there, and of course, a museum shop. If you get to Stockholm, take the time to go out here. It is well worth the trip and such a peaceful place to spend some time.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistlesandkiwis

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

24 Comments

  1. A huge ‘thank you’ or taking us along! I am slapping my wrist for not having been after all my trips to Stockholm – half my parents and in-laws friends were war refugees from Estonia living there . . . one could come for ten days to go from one house to the other with a sheaf of roses or bottle of cognac in hand . . . now one looks and knows there should have been better balance . . . absolutely beautiful sculptures . . .

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  3. Looks fabulous! I absolutely love outdoor sculpture. My favorite is the young men skimming over water. Yes, such energy.

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  8. I think the skating girl might be my favourite of all these. I’m catching up on posts as we’ve been away in the remote north west of Australia with very weak internet, and we are in Darwin for a few days before the next part of the trip. I’m enjoying reading everyone’s posts.

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    1. Yes she is lovely. The WiFi in the hotel is down and sitting in a bar in Porto with a beer and trying to catch up on my blog.

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      1. Do you know the name of this wisteria? There are only a couple of varieties that would survive here, and I’m curious if it’s one of them. 😊

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  11. Oh my, oh my. Yes, I love it. I am so intrigued by the elevation of the sculptures — all so interesting! — on exceedingly tall plinths. The decision really changes my experience of the pieces (and yes, the water-skimmers are SO much fun). I also adore the sculpture of the skating girl among the most sensational yellow garden I’ve seen in a long time. She’s floating on sunshine.

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