A Bourgeois Interior in Turku
Ett Hem, meaning "a home," is a reconstruction of a late 19th and early 20th-century residence. Located in a yellow wooden house in Turku, Finland, the site sits near the Aura river and the Turku Cathedral. The current building on Piispankatu has housed the collection since 1965. It was originally the private residence of Consul Alfred Jacobsson and his wife, Hélène. The interiors reflect the domestic life of a prosperous family from the turn of the century, utilizing furniture and objects gathered by the Jacobssons.
The space offers a glimpse into a specific era of Finnish social history. The rooms are furnished in the style of the period, incorporating textiles, porcelain, and early 20th-century electric lamps. It functions as a preserved environment where the domestic arrangement of the Jacobsson household remains intact.
The Art Collection
The collection focuses on the Golden Age of Finnish art. The works are integrated into the domestic setting, appearing as they might have been displayed in a private home. The paintings and decorative objects were selected by the Jacobsson couple, reflecting their personal interests in the visual arts.
- Albert Edelfelt, Summer evening, 1883
- Elin Danielson-Gambogi, Italian Boats, 1900
- Elin Danielson-Gambogi, Portrait Of Walborg Jakobsson, 1900
Beyond oil paintings, the collection includes graphics, watercolours, pastels, and sculptures. These pieces are accompanied by various antiques and utensils that complete the period setting.
Architecture and Setting
The museum occupies a building that was originally constructed in 1829 for Carl Procopél. While the current structure is located on Piispankatu, the interiors are a reconstruction of a demolished house that once stood at Hämeenkatu 30. This relocation allows for the preservation of the specific bourgeois atmosphere of the original residence. The yellow wooden exterior is a prominent feature of the Turku streetscape, situated opposite the Grädda restaurant.
