'Flora Danica': The Inspiration behind the Design

‘Flora Danica’ was initially the work of Georg Christian Oeder, Head of the Royal Botanical Institution in Copenhagen. King Frederik the 5th of Denmark had requested that a complete botanical encyclopaedia of Danish plants be made. Under Oeder’s control, 10 booklets each with 60 copper prints, were published between 1761-1771. This project continued over the next 100 years and in the end ‘Flora Danica’ comprised 3,240 depictions and descriptions of flowers and plants organised in 51 booklets (plus 3 supplement booklets).

Royal Copenhagen Porcelain

The Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory (now known as Royal Copenhagen) was founded by Juliane Marie, Queen of Denmark and Norway in 1775. Alongside other European porcelain factories, Royal Copenhagen porcelain is sought after due to the highly skilled craftsmanship which goes into each hand painted design.

The transcription of the Flora Danica illustrations to porcelain came in the late 18th century. King Christian VII of Denmark (1749-1808) commissioned the Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory to create a dinner service of 100 settings. The service was to be gifted to Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, as a gift of reconciliation following Denmarks withdrawal of support for the Russian armies in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-1790. 

Johann Christoph Bayer (1738-1812), an artist who had worked on the illustrations for the books, was hired to paint the porcelain pieces and it is thought that he single-handedly painted 1,802 pieces of porcelain before production was completed in 1802. However, by the time the service was ready, Catherine the Great had died. The service stayed in Denmark, where it became a national treasure, used by the Royal family on important state occasions and displayed at Rosenborg Castle, Christiansborg Castle, and Amalienborg Palace.

In 1863, Royal Copenhagen decided to revive the pattern and in keeping with the original Flora Danica service, each piece of porcelain was painstakingly hand-moulded, gilded and decorated, passing through 30 pairs of hands. Success followed swiftly and the factory continues to produce this pattern in the same way today.

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Auction Details

Wednesday 12 August, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing at Dreweatts London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU
  • Monday 27 July: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 28 July: 10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 29 July: 10am-4pm
  • Thursday 30 July: 10am-4pm
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  • Saturday 8 August: 10am-3pm
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  • Monday 10 August: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 11 August: 10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 12 August: 10am-4pm

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