G. H. Hetsch (1788-1864), Architect

• Artistic Head of the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory from 1828-1864.

Creating an angular cup of coffee

Hetsch is one of the biggest names in Danish decorative arts. He assigned several artists to the factory and designed several neo-classical services and elaborate vases richly ornamented in gold. He often found inspiration, as was customary at the time, in foreign styles, patterns and colours. But he inevitably refined the style in his endeavour to find purity, which for him was the distinguishing feature of Danish porcelain and therefore essential to national identity in this period, when the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory's role as the nation's flagship was growing.

In 1835 Hetsch created a Late Empire angular shape for a coffee service. And in 1913 his later successor, the architect Arnold Krog, developed it into a complete dinner service with the old Blue Flower pattern as decoration.