Glamour and Curtsy – Upstairs and Downstairs Life

Villa Hakasalmi now offers a unique exhibition experience for lovers of manor aesthetics and costume drama. Visitors can explore life in the 1860s–1880s by walking through the halls in the roles of fictional characters such as a maid, steward, or aristocrat. In addition to the fictional characters, the exhibition highlights real-life stories, including that of Aurora Karamzin (1808–1902), the most famous resident of Villa Hakasalmi.

In the Central Uusimaa area, there are almost a hundred manors, which were hierarchical small communities. Similarly, Villa Hakasalmi has been structured into two worlds. Downstairs, the steward is doing bookkeeping, pots are simmering in the kitchen, and children play in the nursery. Upstairs, visitors can admire the aristocracy’s splendid clothing and a formal dinner set with tableware from Stansvik Manor. The bed in the master bedroom is inherited from the Linder family of Kytäjä Manor. The exhibition also tells the tragic story of Natalia Stjernschantz (1831–58) of Tuomarinkylä Manor and extensively showcases manors in the Helsinki region.

As part of the exhibition experience, visitors may also sense the presence of a ghost in the halls of Villa Hakasalmi. After closing time, guided tours will take visitors behind the scenes of the exhibition, where they will hear ghost stories from the manors of the Helsinki area. Guided tours start at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm and last about an hour. Tickets cost €15.

The “Glamour and Curtsy – Upstairs and Downstairs Life” exhibition and events have been organised in collaboration with the museums of Central Uusimaa. The exhibition has been designed by producer Susanna Eskola, exhibition architect Tarja Kunttunen, graphic designer Tuija Kuusela, illustrator Hanna Lahti, and scriptwriter Anna Finnilä.