This paper examines the research history of the collection of medieval liturgical art belonging to the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Norway, in light of the political situation of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The impact of nation-building before and after Norway’s independence in 1905 on art historical and conservation research of medieval objects is discussed, with a particular focus on objects dating to the late medieval period. Attitudes towards the later Middle Ages are explored through a discussion of Norwegian history education as well as the traditional grand narrative of Norwegian history. The German connection of the late medieval material is re-examined, leading to a more nuanced understanding of the display choices and research history of the collection.
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