Cup and saucer; porcelain
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, 1776–1779

The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory was founded in 1775, albeit not without certain difficulties which meant that production did not begin immediately. Even so, during the period 1776–1779, the factory carried out extensive experiments with different porcelain clays, glazes and decorative colours, all based on scientific trials.

Right from the outset the intention was for the factory to focus on underglaze-decorated blue and white porcelain. Nevertheless, experiments with decorations in other colours were carried out, especially iron red and purples in various shades.

This small, fluted cup with accompanying saucer dates from the factory’s earliest years. The decoration in purple is quite special: it is an example of so-called ‘Indian painting’, a mixture of Japanese and Chinese designs appropriated directly from the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory in Germany.¹ On the cup as well as on the saucer are reeds and flowers in Japanese style. In the middle of the flowers are small areas done in gold. Along the edge of the inside of the cup and the saucer is a hatched border with reserved fields.