Places with a story
Den gamle toldbod
Den gamle toldbod is the former customs house within Porsgrunn's local museum setting. Its present cultural role links the town's maritime past with the porcelain industry that became one of Porsgrunn's best-known identities.
About the place23
The old customs building stands with the former parsonage and other historic structures in the town museum grounds. This setting brings different sides of the town's history together: administration, shipping, domestic life and manufactured objects. The porcelain collection associated with the building grew substantially through gifts from local residents, giving everyday possessions a place in the public record.
History and local connections1
The historical society's own period account records the transfer of Den gamle toldbod to the museum grounds in 1972. The harbour authority gave the building to the museum, and moving it required specialist work followed by further restoration. Its current position therefore reflects an active preservation project rather than an entirely unchanged historical streetscape.
What to look for2
The advertised porcelain collection ranges from the factory's first firing in 1887 to later twentieth-century production. Designers represented include Nora Gulbrandsen and Tias Eckhoff, alongside other artists and decorators. The pieces show how useful tableware could also express changing artistic ideas. A visit can combine these objects with attention to the historic building and surrounding garden.
Plan your visit23
Visit Telemark states that the collection opens for guided visits by agreement with Porsgrund Historielag. Arrange access before travelling, using the contact on the current visitor listing. The collection in the old customs house and the separate porcelain museum near the factory are different visitor locations, so confirm which exhibition your booking includes.
Sources
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