Generous donation for the exhibition of the Silver Bible
The Silver Bible is considered Sweden’s most precious literary treasure and is one of the world’s most famous manuscripts.
Uppsala University Library has received a donation of one million Swedish kronor from the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation to develop the exhibition of the Silver Bible (Codex Argenteus).
Uppsala University will celebrate its 550th anniversary in 2027, and thanks to the donation, the University Library will be able to make improvements to the exhibition hall at Carolina Rediviva where the Silver Bible is displayed. The goal is to create a more engaging and meaningful experience for visitors to the exhibition, while improving the conservation environment and increasing security.
“We are very happy and grateful for the donation. It gives us new opportunities to improve the environment for the Silver Bible and to make the exhibition even more substantial than it is today,” says Maria Berggren, head of Special Collections Division at Uppsala University Library.
Presentation in a new way
The Silver Bible will be displayed in two different showcases, one for the parchment leaves and one for the silver covers that were made in the 17th century. The new showcases will offer improved climate control compared to the current ones, and for preservation reasons it is better for the objects to be displayed individually.
The exhibition about the Silver Bible will be redesigned so that it will be possible to show more of the fascinating history of the Silver Bible and the research surrounding it. Other printed material, signs and promotional products will also be updated.
Uppsala University anniversary year 2027
The new exhibition will be inaugurated during the anniversary year 2027 and in connection with it, a symposium is planned with the Silver Bible as the theme and with presentations by researchers and experts.
Viveka Stolt
The Silver Bible
Codex argenteus is a unique handwritten book and the main source of what we know about the now extinct Gothic language. The book is considered Sweden’s most precious literary treasure and is one of the world’s most famous manuscripts. It was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 2011.