Pair of Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Porcelain Covered Tureens

18075S: Pair of Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Porcelain Covered Tureens
By Royal Copenhagen (Danish, founded 1775)
Danish, 20th century
Height: 23cm, width 36cm, depth 28cm
This pair of covered tureens and stands belongs to the Flora Danica service, one of Royal Copenhagen's long-running patterns, first commissioned in 1790 as an intended diplomatic gift for Empress Catherine the Great of Russia and inspired by the Danish botanical encyclopaedia of the same name.
Each tureen is potted in white porcelain and painted with a botanical specimen reproduced from the original publication. The bodies carry gilt rectangular panels and applied floral ornament, with gilding to the moulded borders, while the domed covers are fitted with handles modelled as flowering branches, each cover incorporating a shaped notch to accommodate a serving ladle. Each tureen rests on its oval stand with a raised central platform and shallow recessed border.
The underside of each stand bears two Royal Copenhagen marks, the shape number, and the Latin name of the plant depicted, painted in script — Primula variabilis Goup. and Statice rariflora Drej. — reflecting the botanical basis of the service.
$22,500