A Private Collection of Danish Porcelain
Focus on Uniques of the Art Nouveau
Musselmalet / Blue Fluted
"For over 240 years, the pattern’s beauty has left its brushstrokes over our hearts. It has been reconsidered and reappropriated. Painted on new shapes, in new colours. Each reincarnation created with the greatest respect for the original pattern. Take a little bit of this history in your hands and feel for a moment the beauty in the details.
Pattern no. 1 - a piece of Danish history
The story begins in 1775. Across Europe and particularly in Meissen, Germany, porcelain production and decoration began to emulate that of China with its predominantly blue, hand-painted patterns. China was the birthplace of porcelain creation; its exports represented wealth and refined taste and had become a valuable commodity.
Early on in Royal Copenhagen’s history, a Chineseinfluenced pattern was simplified and pared down to
become the factory’s signature Blue Fluted Plain design. Since it was the company’s first design, it was called Pattern No.1. To this day, each piece of Blue Fluted Plain has a “1” painted underneath.
White gold
At the beginning of the 1700’s, Meissen was Europe’s sole manufacturer of porcelain. At the time, porcelain was considered to be “white gold” and in the race to discover the secrets of its manufacture, wealthy investors supported chemists and alchemists, often in dangerous endeavours.
The race was ended in Meissen in 1710, when the Elector of Saxony, Augustus II the Strong held captive a man who claimed to be able to create gold. Eventually, under duress, this ‘alchemist’ created porcelain for the Meissen factory. Meissen retained its monopoly until 1774 when Frantz Heinrich Müller managed to produce porcelain in Copenhagen. Müller was a skilled mineralogist, and the laboratory where he performed his experiments was located at Amagertorv, Copenhagen, not far from Royal Copenhagen’s flagship store today.
Origin of the name
..
The original Danish name for Blue Fluted Plain is “Musselmalet” or clam-painted. Some believe this is
because the fluted shape is reminiscent of a clam- or seashell, but it is in fact based on a stylised crysanthemum and cinquefoil motif. This elegant design, its blue colour and the distinctive fluting together create dinnerware that has long been associated with Denmark.
Blue Fluted Plain has evolved since its inception but has always retained certain fundamental characteristics. At the turn of the millennium, Royal Copenhagen entered a new era and the wellpreserved pattern was renewed in several ways. The stylised flowers were uprooted and replanted in new colours and contexts. The palmette ornamented arches began to tell new stories. These elegant disruptions were created by a few bold young designers who dared to ignore conventions whilst retaining a healthy respect for the brand’s heritage."
Source: www.royalcopenhagen.com/ourpassion/patterns
Musselmalet was at the beginning a full copy of the well selling Meissen pattern. Interesting enough to know that in the beginning only men decorated. Way later in the 19th century women were introduced to this work. Over the years the pattern was simplified and modified to its current status/layout (see musselmalet plates at the end of this page). During the era of Arnold Krog the musselmalet service was brought back to fame. Krog developed new shapes and combined that with new features. He urged the painters to improve quality which brought a very good result.
Artist Decoration: 8 - Miss A. Lübcke
Artist mold: Arnold Krog/S.B. Jacobsen Oct. 1885
Date of Production: 1897-1922
Production Number: 1123 (1/1123)
Height: 28.5 cm
Width: 25 cm
Depth: 25 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: Vase
KRC0864
Artist Decoration: 28 - Miss S. Schlosser/C. Johansen
Artist mold: Arnold Krog around 1885
Date of Production: 1894-1897 (bowl) 1885-93 (stand)
Production Number: 1196
Height: 23 cm
Width: 36 cm
Depth: 25 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: Roccoco Fruit bowl on figural stand
(2 piece)
KRC0865
Artist Decoration: 19 - Miss P. Petersen or Miss Ibsen
Artist mold: J. Jacobsen / C. Liisberg (handles)
Mar. 1886
Date of Production: 1886 - 1893
Production Number: 1069
Height: 14 cm
Width: 39 cm
Depth: 24 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: Jardiniere
KrC0866
Artist Decoration: 24 - Miss Anna Lykke, Inga Schiller or
Miss Kaja Jessen
Artist mold: Arnold Krog /J. Jacobsen Dec. 1886,
C. Liisberg (figurines)
Date of Production: 1897 - 1922
Production Number: 1012
Height: 40 cm
Width: 29 cm
Depth: 29 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: Fruit Bowl on base (2 piece)
KRC0867
Artist Decoration: unknown
Artist mold: unknown / Ruben Svardalyhn for the
figurines ca. 1785-1800
Date of Production: ca. 1820 - 1870
Production Number: unknown
Height: 40 cm
Width: 29 cm
Depth: 29 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted
Remarks: Palm Centerpiece
see Lauritz G. Dorenfeldt "Kongelig
Dansk I 1775-1820" page 36
KRC0868
Artist Decoration: 31 - Miss E. Steenberg
Artist mold: J. Jacobsen and C. Liisberg 1884
and March 1887 (Blue Flower)
Date of Production: 1884 - 1893
Production Number: 13 (1/13 (1506)
Height: 48.5 cm
Width: 24 cm
Depth: 24 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted
Remarks: Roccoco Candlestick (2 piece)
One stick with repairs
KRC0869, KRC0870
Artist Decoration: 24 - Miss Anna Lykke, Inga Schiller or
Miss Kaja Jessen (base)
32 - Miss I. Tange, G. Brünn, Christof-
fersen, A. Lieberkind, C. Poulsen or
Miss Else Möller ((candleholders)
Artist mold: Arnold Krog/J. Jacobsen and C.
Liisberg (figurines) Jul. 188
Date of Production: 1897 - 1922
Production Number: 1006
Height: 55 cm
Width: 29 cm
Depth: 29 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: 5 arm Candlestick
KRC0871
Artist Decoration: 2 - Wictor Thomsen or L. Nielsen
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1850 - 1870
Production Number: 100
Height: 5 cm
Width: 41 cm
Depth: 32.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Oval plate
KRC0884
Artist Decoration: 29 - Miss C. Gottlieb or S. Wiehjel
32 - Miss Christoffersen, A. Lieberkind,
C. Poulsen or Miss Else Möller
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: 1897 - 1922
Production Number: 1049
Height: 12 cm
Width: 32 cm
Depth: 21.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: Fruit Bowl (one defect)
KRC0872, KRC0873
Artist Decoration: unknown
Artist mold: Eric Nielsen 1888
C. Liisberg (figurines)
Date of Production: ca. 1885 - 1922
Production Number: similar to 1047
Height: 16.5 cm
Width: 20 cm
Depth: 18 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: Flower pot, no marks. Compared to
model 1047 the snails have been
replaced by faun´s heads as handles
hairline crack
KRC0874
Artist Decoration: 42 - Miss A. Boll
Artist mold: J. Jacobsen Jun. 1890
Date of Production: 1897 - 1922
Production Number: 105 (1/105)
Height: 5 cm
Width: 60.5 cm
Depth: 25 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted
Remarks: Fish Plate
KRC0875
Artist Decoration: unknown
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: 1897 - 1922
Production Number: 133 (1/133)
Height: 2 cm
Width: 21 cm
Depth: 2 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Dinner Knives (one hairline)
KrC0876 - KRC0878
Artist Decoration: 6 - Miss E. Melchior
Artist mold: J. Jacobsen 1889
Date of Production: 1897 - 1922
Production Number: 1019 (1/1019)
Height: 7 cm
Width: 27.5 cm
Depth: 27.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted Full Lace
Remarks: Salad bowl
KRC0879
Artist Decoration: unknown
Artist mold: J. Jacobsen Dec. 1885 (1016), Jul.
1886 (1094), Nov. 1895 (1144)
Date of Production: 1960 - 1984
Production Number: 613, 1016, 1094, 1144
Height: 3, 11.5, 3, 2.5 cm
Width: 25, 8, 21, 17.5 cm
Depth: 12.5, 8, 21, 17.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted half and full lace
Remarks: Cigarette holder, dish, plates
KRC0880 - KRC0883
Artist Decoration: 24 - Miss Anna Lykke, Inga Schiller or
Miss Kaja Jessen
Artist mold: J. Jacobsen Dec. 1893
Date of Production: 1897 - 1922
Production Number: 361 (1/361)
Height: 22.5 cm
Width: 38 cm
Depth: 24 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Oval Terrine
KRC0885
Artist Decoration: Miss A. Schlegel ?
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1785
Production Number: ?
Height: 5 cm
Width: 32.5 cm
Depth: 32.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: very early large (under) plate
KRC0886
Picture to the left:
See original Meissen blue fluted around 1770 compared to the slightly adjusted blue fluted by Royal Copenhagen around 1785
Artist Decoration: Jens Henrich Kaas (1780-1813)
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1785-90
Production Number:
Height: 6.5 cm
Diameter: 34.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Deep Serving Plate
KRC1121
Artist Decoration: Hans Jacob Hansen
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1800 - 1819
Production Number: similar to 175
Height: 3.5 cm
Width: 24.5 cm
Depth: 24.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat Plate
KRC0887
Artist Decoration: "6", not identified
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1795 - 1810
Production Number: 175
Height: 6 cm
Width: 35.5 cm
Depth: 35.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat (under) Plate
KRC1186
Artist Decoration: Friedrich Gregorius Schaltz 1780-1837
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1800 - 1820
Production Number: similar to 175
Height: 3.50 cm
Width: 24.5 cm
Depth: 24.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat Plate
KRC0888
Artist Decoration: Mathias Hansen Wolstrup 1779-1801
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1780 - 1801
Production Number: similar to 175
Height: 3.50 cm
Width: 24.5 cm
Depth: 24.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat Plate
KRC0889
Artist Decoration: Hans Jacob Hansen (1779-1819)
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1790
Production Number: similar to 175
Height: 3.50 cm
Width: 24.5 cm
Depth: 24.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat Plate, hairline crack
KRC0890
Artist Decoration: Friedrich Gregorius Schaltz 1780-1837
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1800
Production Number: similar to 175
Height: 3.5 cm
Width: 24.5 cm
Depth: 24.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat Plate
KRC0891
Artist Decoration: 12 - C. Nödskov, Miss B. Lykke or
Miss A. Gram
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1870 - 1890
Production Number: 175
Height: 3.5 cm
Width: 25 cm
Depth: 25 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat Plate
KRC0892
Artist Decoration: J. Chr. Hansen 1803-12 and 1815-62
Artist mold: unknown
Date of Production: ca. 1850 - 62
Production Number: 175
Height: 4 cm
Width: 32.5 cm
Depth: 32.5 cm
Pattern: Blue Fluted plain
Remarks: Flat (under) Plate
KRC0893
32 items