Exploring Jewish Country Houses in Sweden, 1760s-1960s

While much is known about Jews as economic actors, bearers of culture, and patrons in European cities between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, Jews as owners of country estates have until recently almost eluded investigation, even though some studies now have been pursued in different European contexts. This article marks a new approach within the field by presenting the results of the first systematic and quantitative historical study in Sweden. About a hundred country houses were owned by Jewish families from c. 1760 to c. 1960. Mostly, in the vicinity of cities where Jews were allowed to live until 1854, such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Norrköping. Moreover, in 1850, Jews owned comparatively more country houses than the bourgeoisie in general. This study indicates that a plurality of Jewish identities was represented among the owners, and that social and economic assets possibly had a greater impact on Jewish country house acquisitions than did the regulations which were installed to prevent them.