ROYAL COPENHAGEN FLORA DANICA PORCELAIN SERVICE (68 PIECES),Date marks, 1943, 1950's. Handpainted porcelain service depicting various botanical specimens. Comprised of twelve dinner plates, twelve salad plates, twelve bread plates, eight soup bowls, twelve cups, and twelve saucers.
The service's name and decorations stem from the botanical work Flora Danica whose fifty one volumes and total of over 3000 copperplate prints were issued in the period 1761-1883. The wide-ranging work reproduced in minute detail Danish flora. The great task of transcribing the botanical illustrations to the first service, which was commissioned by Danish King, Christian VII, became the life's work of one man – Johann Christoph Bayer, and required twelve years to complete. The original service is presently in the collection of H.M. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
NOTE: The original Flora Danica dinner service was commissioned by King Christian VII from the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory in 1790. According to tradition, the service was to be a gift to Czarina Catherine II of Russia, but she died in 1796 before the 1,802 pieces were finished. The service represents the life´s botanical illustration work of acclaimed painter, Johann Christoph Bayer.
Very good condition, with no chips and minimal, if any, use.
