Gold Salon

The Gold Salon, named after its gold-coloured wallpaper modelled on Baroque designs, is one of the palace’s finest interiors. The rich glow of the walls reminiscent of gold bullion casts a ceremonial atmosphere over the room.

It was originally called the Ladies’ Salon because it was intended for the wives of presidents of the Slovak Republic to receive important female visitors. It is also a venue for intimate but high-profile meals, such as the traditional New Year’s lunch with all the surviving holders of the office, and for the president’s tête-à-tête meetings with other heads of state on official visits to Slovakia. The Gold Salon has kept its original dimensions from the 18th century and its original cornice, though the ceiling is a replacement. It is interesting that in earlier times, this was known as the “Chinese Saloon” in reference to a noteworthy collection of porcelain from several Asian countries. Several vases are displayed between the windows on richly carved and gilded 18th-century consoles. Japanese porcelain “Imari” bowls made between 1700 and 1730 are also displayed on the wall. Porcelain was once known as “white gold” and if a noble could afford to display porcelain in their palace, it was a sign that they were very rich indeed.

 The furniture in the room is original and reflects the tastes of the upper nobility of the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the stand-out items is a Baroque writing cabinet with a tabernacle – a small shrine – from the second half of the 18th century. A lady’s secretary desk made in southern Germany in 1724 also catches the eye. Most of the seating was made in Austria based on 18th-century designs. There are two notable portraits on the walls: Count Anton I Grassalkovich, the palace’s founder, and his daughter Theresa Forgach.

 One more historical artefact to look out for is a mirror with a gilded wooden frame by the window; it is the oldest item in the palace and dates from the 17th century. There are signs of wear on its surface reflecting the effects of time on the original materials. The carpet on the floor was woven according to a historical pattern in 1995 and the lighting comes from a new crystal chandelier made at the Kamenický Šenov Glassworks.

Completing the ensemble is a painting above the central doors dating from the late 17th century. It depicts a mythological scene from the life of Andromache, the wife of the Trojan hero Hector. It is probably a loose copy of a work by the French painter Louis de Boullogne that became a well-known engraving. The scene is inspired by Homer’s Iliad and reflects the Baroque tradition of referencing ancient traditions.