The Original Christmas blue plates first appeared at the Nordic Exhibition in 1888, when Royal Copenhagen exhibited a series of blue plates, with the intention of providing an advertisement for the factory.
Crown Princess Louise was so enchanted by them that she immediately bought a plate, and the news of the royal purchase spread like wildfire, so people were soon queuing up to order plates.
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The technique used in manufacturing these plates is very different from other porcelain painting, as the motif on the plate appears in relief; This decorative technique is still recognised today as a typical mark of Royal Danish porcelain.
The beautiful 2006 Christmas plate motive illustrates Christmas at Kronborg castle north of Copenhagen; designed by artist Sven Vestergaard it features five swans in flight over the sea that surrounds Kronborg.
The castle was built around the 1420s, is one of Northern Europe’s most important and impressive renaissance castles.
Following tradition, the original model is destroyed each year to ensure that the plates remain limited editions.
The Christmas Plate retails at £56.
Web: www.royalcopenhagen.com
Tel: (0800) 963 763