Ada Bruhn Hoffmeyer (1 December 1910 – 8 August 1991) was a
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
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* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
museum curator, writer and medieval weapons expert. She founded "The Institute of Studies on Ancient Weapons" which was recognised as the authority on Spanish arms and armour.
Life
Hoffmeyer was born in
Roskilde
Roskilde ( , ) is a city west of Copenhagen on the Danish island of Zealand. With a population of 51,916 (), the city is a business and educational centre for the region and the 10th largest city in Denmark. It is governed by the administrative ...
. a large city on an island near Copenhagen, in 1910. Her father Lauritz J. Bruhn was in the police and Alfa Karen Margrethe Larsen was her mother. She left
Roskilde Cathedral School
Roskilde Cathedral School ( da, Roskilde Katedralskole, Roskilde Domskole) is a historic high school in Roskilde, Denmark. It was established around 1020 with close connections to Roskilde Cathedral. The school has since 1969 been located on Holbæ ...
in 1923 and she had always been interested in archaeology. Hohhmeyer began her studies at the
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in ...
in 1929. In 1936 she completed her thesis on "Oltos and early red-figure vase painting" in 1936.
She worked in several museums and joined the Tøjhusmuseet in 1939. She obtained funding to study in Rome where she published "Oltos and Early Greek Vase Painting" in 1943. By this time she was leading the Tøjhusmuseet's department of weapons and armour.
In 1945 she became a doctor with a dissertation on the ''Medieval double-edged sword''. This was published in 1954 and was well regarded as a source for study.
In 1960 she left her work citing differences and together with her husband they created "The Institute of Studies on Ancient Weapons" in
Kalundborg
Kalundborg () is a Danish city with a population of 16,211 (1 January 2022),Jaraíz de la Vera and in 1964 they succeeded in gaining recognition when the institute became part of the Higher Council for Scientific Research. There she wrote two volumes on Arms and Armour. Her husband died in 1973 and ater that she continued alone.
Publications
* ''Oltos and Early Greek Vase Painting,'' 1943
* ''Medieval double-edged sword,'' 1954
* ''Roskilde Cathedral School through the ages,'' 1965 (contributor)
* ''Military Equipment in the Manuscript of Scylitzes in Biblioteca Nacional,'' 1966
* ''Arms and Armor in Spain vol. 1,'' 1972
* ''From Medieval Sword to Renaissance Rapier.'' 1980
* ''Arms and Armor in Spain vol. 2,'' 1981