Royal Copenhagen

Royal Copenhagen, officially the Royal Porcelain Factory (Danish: Den Kongelige Porcelænsfabrik), is a Danish manufacturer of porcelain products and was founded in Copenhagen in 1775 under the protection of Danish Dowager Queen Juliane Marie. It is recognized by its factory mark, the three wavy lines above each other, symbolizing Denmark’s three straits: Storebælt, Lillebælt and Øresund.

Royal Copenhagen
Subsidiary
Founded1 May 1775
HeadquartersDenmark, Copenhagen
ProductsPorcelain
ParentFiskars
Websitewww.royalcopenhagen.com
Plate with flower decoration, c. 1905-1910

Early years
Modern Musselmalet or "Blue Fluted" pattern dinner service
Pieces of the "Flora Danica" dinner service, Christiansborg Palace

Starting in the 17th century, Europeans, long fascinated by the blue and white porcelain exported from China during the Ming and Qing dynasties, began to imitate the precious ware.[1] The Royal Copenhagen manufactory's operations began in a converted post office in 1775. It was founded by chemist Frantz Heinrich Müller who was given a 50-year monopoly to create porcelain. Though royal patronage was not at first official, the first pieces manufactured were dining services for the royal family.[2] When, in 1779, King Christian VII assumed financial responsibility, the manufactory was styled the Royal Porcelain Factory.

The factory's pattern No. 1, still in production, is "Musselmalet", "mussel-painted", called "Blue Fluted" in English-speaking countries. The "mussel blue" is cobalt. The discovery in 1772 of a rich vein of cobalt in Norway, the junior part of the joint kingdom, was quickly developed using some nearby water power into an industry, grinding cobalt to a fine dust to incorporate in ceramic glazes and glass manufacture. The mellowed Blaafarveværket site is a tourist attraction today. During the first half of the 19th century cobalt rivaled fisheries as the greatest source of wealth obtained from Norway. Many of the German porcelain manufactories in the 19th century produced a version of intense blue "echt Kobalt" decor combined with patterned gilding, using the Norwegian cobalt from Denmark.

In 1790, Royal Copenhagen was commissioned by the king to produce a "Flora Danica" dinner service, with gilded edges and botanical motifs copied from the ongoing illustrated Flora Danica.[3] It was intended as a gift for Catherine the Great; Royal Copenhagen has produced hand-painted pieces of "Flora Danica" to this day.

Vase with Japanese wild carp, shape by Arnold Krog and Soren Bech Jacobsen, 1887, decorated by August F. Hallin, 1888, porcelain

In 1851, Royal Copenhagen showed its production at The Great Exhibition in London. In 1868, as a result of royal companies' privatization, the Royal Porcelain Factory came into private hands, though the "Royal" designation was retained.

In the mid-19th century the many large European porcelain companies generally stood aloof from artistic developments such as Japonisme, and the Arts and Crafts movement, concentrating on tableware, and often struggling to throw off what had become the deadening influence of Rococo and Neoclassical styles. In the 1870s most continued to produce an eclectic variety of revivalist styles, though sometimes experimenting with glazes, as at Meissen porcelain, which began to produce monochrome vases from 1883.[4]

The first major porcelain company to seriously change its styles was Royal Copenhagen, which made radical changes from 1883, when it was bought by Aluminia, an earthenware company. Arnold Krog, an architect under 30 with no practical experience of the industry, was made artistic director the next year, and rapidly shifted designs in the same directions art pottery was exploring, commissioning many painters to design for the factory. Japanese influences were initially very strong. The new wares soon won prizes at various international exhibitions, and most of the large porcelain makers began to move in similar directions,[5] causing problems for the smaller art potteries.

Shortly after Aluminia's acquisition, Royal Copenhagen production was moved to a modern factory building at Aluminia’s site in Frederiksberg, on the outskirts of Copenhagen. At the Exposition Universelle (1889) in Paris, Royal Copenhagen won the Grand Prix, giving it international exposure.

Current company

In recent years, Royal Copenhagen acquired Georg Jensen in 1972, incorporated with Holmegaard Glass Factory in 1985, and finally Bing & Grøndahl in 1987. Royal Copenhagen was a part of a group of Scandinavian companies, Royal Scandinavia, together with Georg Jensen, and was owned by a Danish private equity fund, Axcel. Following Axcel's acquisition of Royal Scandinavia, Holmegaard Glasværk was sold in a MBO, and a controlling interest in the Swedish glass works Orrefors Kosta Boda was sold to New Wave Group.

In December 2012, Axcel sold Royal Copenhagen to the Finnish listed company Fiskars, which was founded in 1649.[6]

The company now produces its products in Thailand.[7][8][9]

Patterns (original manufacturer in parentheses)
Seagull dinnerware, designed by Fanny Garde of Bing & Grøndahl in 1895

Most famous
  • Flora Danica, Musselmalet (Blue Fluted), Blue Flower, Henriette, Saxon Flower, Fan, Gemina, and Gemma (Royal Copenhagen)
  • Empire, Offenbach, Butterfly and Seagull (Bing & Grøndahl)
  • Tranquebar and Blue Line (Aluminia).

New
  • Black Mega, Palmette, White Plain, White Half Lace, White Full Lace, Blue Flower Curved and Plain, White Pot, Blue Line, the new Christmas service Star Fluted, and Ole.[10]

Discontinued
  • Blue Flower, Gemina, Gemma, Jingle Bells, Blue Line, Frijsenborg and Julian Marie (Royal Copenhagen)
  • Seagull, Blue Henning Koppel, White Henning Koppel, Tema, Mexico (Bing & Grøndahl)

Collectables
Vase designed by Gerhard Heilmann, 1891
  • Royal Copenhagen 2010 plaquettes: Numbered and named cobalt blue decorated plates depicted a variety of scenes, holidays, years, and occasions. Most commonly round, they measured about 8 cm (3-1/4") in diameter, with a blue scene on white background.
  • Larger, approximately 18.5 cm, blue on white cobalt blue decorated plates, created annually for Mother's Day, the Olympics and other commemorations. Some weren't annual issues, instead depicted scenes. In 1895, Royal Copenhagen began producing annual Christmas plates, and continue to do so.[11]
  • Porcelein pipes, beginning in 1969 and manufactured for about 15 years.

Christmas plates

The tradition of Christmas plates started hundreds of years ago in Europe, when wealthy people presented their servants with cakes and sweets, served on decorative plates of wood or metal at Christmas time. The servants referred to these gifts as their Christmas Plate. In 1895 Bing & Grøndahl produced the first Christmas plate made from porcelain, with the date inscribed, and has made one each year since. In 1908 the Royal Copenhagen factory followed suit. Each year these plates are made in limited quantities and have been collectable for over 100 years. Each plate is made in the year of issue only, after which the mould is destroyed, and the design is never made again.[12]

1917 Christmas Plate
Royal Porcelain manufactory on Købmagergade in Copenhagen (19th century)

The themes since 1908 are:[13]

YearChristmas PlateNotes
1908Madonna & Child
1909Danish Landscape
1910The Magi
1911Thief Plate
1911Landscape
1912Christmas Tree
1913Frederiks KirkeFrederik's Church
1914HelligåndskirkenChurch of the Holy Ghost
1915Danish Landscape
1916Shepherds in the Field
1917Vor Frelsers KirkeChurch of Our Saviour, Christianshavn
1918The Shepherds
1919In The Park
1920Mary & Child
1921Aabenraa Market
1922Three Singing Angels
1923Landscape
1924Sailing Ship
1925Christianshavn
1926Christianshavns Kanal
1927Ship's Boy at Tiller
1928Vicar's Family
1929Grundtvigs KirkeGrundtvig's Church
1930Fishing Boats
1931Mother & Child
1932Frederiksberg
1933StorebæltsfærgerneGreat Belt ferries
1934EremitageslottetHermitage Hunting Lodge
1935Kronborg
1936Roskilde DomkirkeRoskilde Cathedral
1937Copenhagen
1938Østerlars Church
1939Ship on Greenland Ice
1940The Good Shepherd
1941Village Church
1942Bell Tower
1943Flight Into Egypt
1944Winter Scene
1945Peaceful Motif
1946Zealand Church
1947The Good Shepherd
1948Nødebo KirkeNødebo Church
1949Vor Frue KirkeChurch of Our Lady
1950Boeslunde Church
1951Christmas Angel
1952Christmas In The Forest
1953Frederiksberg
1954Amalienborg
1955Fanø Girl
1956Rosenborg SlotRosenborg Castle
1957The Good Shepherd
1958GrønlandGreenland
1959Christmas Night
1960The Stag
1961Training Ship Denmark
1962Den lille havfrueThe Little Mermaid
1963Højsager Mill
1964Fetching The Tree
1965Little Skaters
1966The Blackbird At Christmas
1967The Royal Oak
1968The Last Umiak
1969Old Farmyard
1970Christmas Rose & Cat
1971Hare In Winter
1972In The Desert
1973Train Homeward Bound
1974Owl
1975Marselisborg SlotMarselisborg Palace
1976Vibæk Mill
1977Immervad Bridge
1978Greenland Scene
1979Choosing The Tree
1980Bringing Home The Tree
1981Admiring The Tree
1982Waiting For Christmas
1983Merry Christmas
1984Jingle Bells
1985The Snowman
1986Christmas Holidays
1987Winter Birds
1988Copenhagen Skyline
1989Old Skating Pond
1990Tivoli Gardens
1991Santa Lucia Fest
1992The Royal Coach
1993Arriving Train
1994Home From Shopping
1995The Manor House
1996Street Lamps
1997Roskilde DomkirkeRoskilde Cathedral
1998Boat Scene
1999The Sleigh Ride
2000Trimming The Tree
2001Watching The Birds
2002Winter In The Forest
2003Season's Greetings
2004Awaiting The Christmas Train
2005Hans Christian Andersen House
2006Kronborg
2007Christmas in Nyhavn
2008Copenhagen Christmas
2009Christmas at AmagertorvAmager Square
2010Christmas in Greenland
2011Waiting For Santa Claus
2012Sailing The North Sea
2013Copenhagen Harbour
2014Hans Christian Andersen
2015Christmas Days
2016Ice Skating In Copenhargen
2017Walk At The Lakes
2018Christmas Tree Market
2019Meeting in the field

Further reading
  • Bojesen, Benedicte, and Steen Nottelmann. Royal Copenhagen Art, Industry. Lyngby: Sophienholm, 1996. ISBN 87-87883-57-0
  • Christoffersen, Lars. Christmas Plates & Other Commemoratives from Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Grøndahl. A Schiffer book for collectors. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub, 2004. ISBN 0-7643-2089-0 Table of contents
  • Heritage, Robert J. Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Animals and Figurines. A Schiffer book for collectors. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub, 1997. ISBN 0-7643-0101-2
  • Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik, Bredo L. Grandjean, Dyveke Helsted, and Merete Bodelsen. The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory 1775-1975. Copenhagen: The Manufactory, [eksp., Amagertorv 6], 1975. ISBN 87-980342-1-9
  • Pope, Caroline, and Nick Pope. A Collector's Guide to Royal Copenhagen Porcelain. A Schiffer book for collectors. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2001. ISBN 0-7643-1386-X
  • Wagner, Peter, Steen Nottelmann, Finn Andersen, and Paul Nesbitt. Flora Danica. Edinburgh: Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 1994. ISBN 0-9523869-0-9
  • Winstone, H. V. F. Royal Copenhagen. [London]: Stacey International, 1984. ISBN 0-905743-37-7

See also

References
  1. Lu Chenglong. "A Brief Introduction to Chinese Ceramics in Sweden". Gotheborg.com. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  2. "Danish Porcelain Pipes". Danishpipemakers.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  3. Archived August 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Battie, 161–162; Mundt, 23–26,
  5. Battie, 162–163; Mundt, 30–31
  6. Archived March 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Royal Copenhagen Makes Moves into Thailand". Scandasia.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  8. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "ROYAL COPENHAGEN TO THAILAND". Denmark.dk. Archived from the original on 2008-05-03. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  9. "Field trip to Royal Copenhagen Thailand". Scandasia.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  10. "Royal Copenhagen". RoyalCopenhagen.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  11. "Danish Porcelain Pipes". Danishpipemakers.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  12. "Empire Gifts - More Info about **Royal Copenhagen Christmas Plates from 1908 to 2014". Empiregiftsandantiques.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  13. "Royal Copenhagen :: Royal Copenhagen/Christmas Plates (1908-2015)". GeolinOnline.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  • Battie, David, ed., Sotheby's Concise Encyclopedia of Porcelain, 1990, Conran Octopus, ISBN 1850292515
  • Mundt, Barbara, in Hungarian Ceramics from the Zsolnay Manufactory, 1853–2001, ed. Ács, Piroska et al, 2002, Yale University Press, ISBN 0300097042, 9780300097047, google books
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