For King Erik the Mad

Costume from Erik XIV, 1974, designed by Lars Juhl, hand woven by Else Duch, The Theater Museum at the Court Theater, Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark

The King’s costume from Erik XIV by August Strindberg. The 1974 Kaspar Rostrup production was staged at The Royal Theater in Copenhagen, with costumes designed by Lars Juhl and hand woven by Else Duch. Several of the costumes are currently displayed on the stage of The Theater Museum at the Court Theater, Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Eric XIV was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was deposed in 1568. Early in his reign he showed signs of mental instability and eventually became insane. After being deposed, he was imprisoned and possibly murdered. A  1959 examination of his remains showed he may have died of arsenic poisoning.

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