Royal Copenhagen’s products are the work of artists and designers with extraordinary creative talents, artistic depth, aesthetic vision and understanding for the personality of porcelain. This year those artists have applied their abilities to Royal Copenhagen’s Christmas tables.
The fact is that this year Royal Copenhagen is going back to the original idea behind the Christmas tables and asking the artists and designers who create its products to lay the table for Christmas. When the first Christmas tables were laid 44 years ago, it was the firm’s own artists who each set the table for Christmas, creating a festive ambience in the exclusive store. This tradition did not change until the 1970s, when Royal Copenhagen started inviting celebrities to bring a sprinkling of stardust to its Christmas tables.
This year’s tables have been laid by:
- Karen Kjældgård-Larsen, who created Blue Fluted Mega
- Niels Bastrup, Royal Copenhagen’s Creative Director
- Ole Jensen, who designed the Ole range
- Monica Ritterband, creator of the Musica service and figurines
- Shane Brox, who is launching a new children’s service by the name of Masquerade
- Violise Lunn, who is responsible for a new Christmas collection
- Jette Frölich, who has been generating Christmas cheer for Royal Copenhagen since 1989
The Christmas tables can be seen in Royal Copenhagen’s flagship store at Amagertov 6 from 22 November to 31 December 2007.
We wish you a very merry Christmas.
An ice blue Christmas
By Karen Kjældgård-Larsen
In a snowscape of ice blue the table has been laid for a Christmas picnic in the open air. The slightly random positioning of the plates indicates that the guests were surprised by a sudden snowfall and have run for cover. Karen Kjældgård-Larsen has laid the table for Christmas lunch with her own Blue and Black Fluted Mega services. In the middle of the iceberg, in all their glory, are two étagères that have been specially created with Blue Fluted Mega and Blue Fluted. The two services are separated by 225 years of history, but they complement each other beautifully.
To counterbalance the hand-painted porcelain, Karen has created a small service in lavender blue, which sets off Mega perfectly with its hand-made shapes. The service from ceramic duo Claydies is called True Feelings. Claydies are also responsible for the ceramic grass poking up through the snow and heralding the spring waiting below. The cutlery is Gense’s Focus de Luxe and Karen has chosen a mega spoon to go with the Mega pattern, while the glasses are Fontaine from Holmegaard. The damask napkins are from Geismar.
Karen, who did you invite to this Christmas picnic?
It would have to be the Snow Queen and her retinue. The Snow Queen represents ice, frost and cold. She reminds us that we should enjoy Christmas, which is a warm, golden focal point in the middle of a long, cold winter.
About Karen Kjældgård-Larsen
Karen Kjældgård-Larsen created Blue Fluted Mega in 2000 when she was still a student at Danmarks Designskole. Blue Fluted Mega is now one of Royal Copenhagen’s best-selling services globally. Karen is half of design duo Claydies, who specialise in ceramic art and design.
An all-embracing Christmas
By Niels Bastrup
Niels Bastrup’s Christmas table is three sumptuous tables in one, reaching for the sky. The triangular pyramid shape of the composition is reminiscent of a Christmas tree. The chandelier hanging above the third and highest of the tables represents the star on top of the tree.
If the tables represent a Christmas tree in their shape and composition, then Royal Copenhagen’s services are the tree trunk. On the first table we see one of Royal Copenhagen’s founders in the form of a bust of Queen Dowager Juliane Marie. Juliane Marie was one of the first people to invest in the Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory, which is why the factory was allowed to call itself royal. The bottom table also has plaster moulds from the factory to represent the first step in porcelain production.
From White Half Lace and Full Lace, through the Princess service, to Blue Fluted Full Lace, the value and artistry of the services gradually increase as the eye approaches the painting of the Virgin Mary. She represents the Christmas message, lending the table a touch of solemnity. The small trees are hung with hearts created by joining two porcelain handles together. Above the table are lots of glittering Royal Copenhagen charms, which are part of this year’s Christmas collection. The table can be enjoyed from both the ground floor and the first floor, as mirrors have been fitted under the tables so that the setting can be seen inverted. The glasses on the table are all antiques in private ownership. The cutlery and napkins are also privately owned.
Niels, what is the most important element in a beautiful Christmas table?
It is important to include elements from nature in the table setting. It doesn’t matter whether it’s moss, cones or twigs, but something living and unadulterated from nature provides a nice balance and contrasts with meticulous decorations and shiny porcelain.
About Niels Bastrup
Niels Bastrup has been Creative Director at Royal Copenhagen since 2005. He has originated a number of new Royal Copenhagen services and products for the Royal Christmas collection.
A chaotic Christmas
By Ole Jensen
Ole Jensen’s table illustrates the chaos we all experience in the month before Christmas and New Year. Christmas preparations are characterised by traffic jams, shopping for presents, stress and synthetic sweets and ribbon. Ole has decided to welcome chaos with open arms and bring it together in a contemporary, slightly stressful Christmas table. The lilac Plexiglas tabletop is the same shape as Ole Jensen’s large dish from the Ole service. The table is laid with the Ole service, pink Contrast mugs, Jean Nouvel cutlery from Georg Jensen and Zwiesel glasses. The table is also decorated with four small porcelain figurines by Svend Lindhart illustrating the four aches: headache, stomachache, earache and toothache. All consequences of a chaotic Christmas.
Pink flexes wind their way all over the table, carrying electricity to and from the table lamps, which used to be graters. The flexes represent all the activity caused by spending Christmas in the bosom of one’s family. In an ordinary Danish home at Christmas several computers may be on, the digital cameras will be glowing, the mobile phones will be ringing and the television will never be off. The mission of this Christmas table is to create something beautiful from the chaos of modern life, the stress of Christmas and the artificial glitter of the season.
Ole, how can we avoid Christmas stress?
We can avoid Christmas stress by accepting that it’s part and parcel of the festive season and not wanting it any other way.
About Ole Jensen
Ole Jensen originally trained as a ceramicist and is known for, among other things, the innovative designs for kitchen and table that he has developed for Royal Copenhagen. The “Ole” range from 1997 consists of functional tableware and kitchen utensils with organic shapes, humour and soul.
A musical Christmas
By Monica Ritterband
Monica Ritterband has chosen to compose her Christmas table with two main themes: music and nature. The sophisticated man-made element is expressed in sound, tone and porcelain in the form of Monica’s Musica, while the natural element is expressed in a forest floor with moss and cones. She shows what is all-important to her in a symphony with the magic of notes: music, which represents pleasure, elegance and human ability, and nature, which sustains and nourishes everything.
Monica Ritterband’s table is laid on planks from Royal Copenhagen’s factory. These beautiful, golden boards are used to transport porcelain from the painting department to the glazing department and then to the kiln. On the Christmas table they have the privilege of carrying Monica’s Musica service. At each place there is a gilded Sofa Note to remind the guests that Christmas should also be a luminous, gilded breathing space in which to gather one’s strength for the new year.
The centre of the table is dominated by a mellow, almost regal tuba, which sets off the musical porcelain. Monica has also set the tone by inviting her favourite musicians to Christmas dinner: Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney, Kim Larsen, Anne Linnet and Nikolai Znajder. In addition to the Musica service, the table is laid with Mitra cutlery from Georg Jensen, Schott glasses and Himla napkins. The horns have been kindly loaned by I. K. Gottfried.
Monica, what sort of music creates a festive ambience?
Music that moves you.
About Monica Ritterband
Monica Ritterband grew up in an artistic home and helped her parents with large artistic commissions from when she was just a child. In 1997 she decided to dedicate herself to art full time, a decision that has since benefited many art lovers. Monica has created products for Ege Tæpper, Holmegaard and Royal Copenhagen, among others.
A fairytale Christmas
By Shane Brox
No sooner has granny put her evening gloves on and left for the Christmas ball than all the porcelain and toys in her cottage come to life. While granny is out, a fairytale world awakes. Sylvester the Seahorse invites all his friends to a fancy-dress ball to celebrate Christmas and all sorts of things go on in granny’s cupboards that she would never have the imagination to picture. It is fortunate that granny has put her parcels on top of her cupboards, out of reach for inquisitive fingers and prying eyes.
Isadora the Polar Bear, Elvis the Cat and all the other characters from the Masquerade book have laid the magic table for a party. They have created a beautiful combination with granny’s exquisite Seagull service and the Masquerade service. The cutlery is granny’s own, while the glasses are Prelude from Orrefors and the napkins were purchased by granny from Georg Jensen Damask.
The table has been set for a magical, fun and unique dinner. So we can only hope that granny will not wonder at the broken Flora Danica cup that Sylvester the Seahorse knocked over in his festive fervour.
Shane, how can we put children in the Christmas mood?
Tradition, anticipation and magic put children in the Christmas mood. Parents and grandparents can help by keeping up Christmas traditions, while anticipation and the countdown to Christmas give children butterflies in their tummies and magic is provided by all the Christmas tales about Santa and his elves, Christmas decorations, glitter, colour and snow falling on a starry night.
About Shane Brox
Shane Brox’s picture book Masquerade, which tells the story of granny’s animated porcelain, was published by Politikens Forlag in 2007. The Masquerade service from Royal Copenhagen depicts the lovable characters from the book. Shane has published a number of other children’s books and also hosts a television programme, Shanes Verden, on DR1.
A golden Christmas
By Violise Lunn
Violise Lunn has laid the table for Christmas with Flora Danica, the world’s most exclusive porcelain, in the most beautiful room in the house. The grand table has been laid for six people, who will eat Christmas dinner from Flora Danica plates and Violise’s own golden bowls. In the centre of the table stand two large vases containing beautiful, twisted branches, which are decorated with paper hearts and cornets, dextrously created by Violise for Royal Copenhagen’s Christmas collection. Two angels are watching over the table from the chandelier to ensure that the peace of Christmas descends on the dinner.
Violise has created a charming, gossamery and colourful universe for her Christmas dinner. The gold of the Flora Danica service gleams in competition with the Christmas candles and there is colourful candy to sweeten the hours of waiting before the guests can dance round the Christmas tree and open their presents. The guests will drink their Christmas wine out of Merlot glasses from Orrefors, while the tumblers are by iittala and the cutlery is Georg Jensen’s Vivianna. The napkins are candy-striped tea towels from Skjalm P that have been decorated with gold leaf.
Violise, which colours are best for Christmas?
I think a Christmas table should be bright and airy, and I love things that glitter. It counterbalances the darkness of winter and the colours that are traditionally regarded as Christmassy, like dark green and dark red. So my favourite colours for Christmas are white, pink and gold.
About Violise Lunn
Violise Lunn originally trained as a fashion designer at Danmarks Designskole. She has worked in a number of different materials, including fur, paper and textiles. For the last two years Violise has designed Christmas decorations, bowls and vases for Royal Copenhagen.
An innocent, flirtatious Christmas
By Jette Frölich
Jette Frölich has laid the table for a Christmas buffet on a large, elliptical ice rink. Skating princesses in white whiz off on the glittering ice and do pirouettes until they are up to their ears in the ice. The beautiful table is surrounded by candles and twigs, which smell clean and fresh like a crisp winter morning. On the table itself étagères tempt the taste buds with Christmas goodies to be enjoyed by the Christmas guests and small skating princesses.
The inspiration for the skating princess theme came from Jette’s own childhood, when she used to skate on Gentofte Lake. The contrast between the chilly dancing on the lake and the warm, cosy sensation of going home with cold, rosy cheeks to drink punch is the essence of Christmas cheer. There was something innocent and flirtatious about going to the lake, showing off on the ice and having fun with the other little skating princes and princesses. The table has been laid with White Full Lace, White Half Lace and the Blue Fluted pattern in a beautiful shade of green. The napkins are privately owned, while the silver-rimmed champagne glasses are from Broste Copenhagen.
Jette, why do we like Christmas decorations so much?
These days our homes tend to be very minimalist and streamlined. That’s also because we’re too busy to deal with lots of details and knickknacks, of course. But once a year it’s quite legitimate to take a child’s pleasure in decorating the home with all sorts of knickknacks, ornaments and paper.
About Jette Frölich
Jette Frölich epitomises Christmas decorations for Danes. Ever since the late 1960s, when she started holding a Christmas bazaar in her own home, Jette Frölich has been creating Christmas decorations for her own shop and later for firms like Illums Bolighus, Holmegaard and Royal Copenhagen. She has been making Christmas collections for Royal Copenhagen for 18 years.
About Royal Copenhagen A/S
Royal Copenhagen, officially the Royal Porcelain Factory (in Danish: Den Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik), was founded in Copenhagen in 1775 under the protection of Queen Juliane Marie and has been recognised ever since by its factory mark, the three wavy lines above each other, which symbolises the three straits that back then divided Denmark: Øresund, Store Bælt and Lille Bælt.
Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Grøndahl are trademarks of Royal Copenhagen A/S.