Description:

Royal Copenhagen, antique hand-painted butterfly plate.

Antique porcelain plate with hand-painted decoration depicting a large butterfly in black, brown and turquoise-blue tones among green plants, surrounded by smaller insects and botanical motifs. The scalloped rim is embellished with a delicate pink ornamental border and finished with gilding. A refined example of early Danish porcelain with natural history decoration.

Origin: Denmark.
Material: Porcelain.
Dimensions: D. 24 cm.
Period: Mid 19th century.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor signs of wear.

Bio:
Royal Copenhagen was founded in Copenhagen in 1775 under the name Royal Porcelain Factory. Its early production included finely hand-painted porcelain in which botanical subjects, butterflies and other insects formed part of the periods natural-history decorative tradition. Such works demanded considerable precision and technical skill from the porcelain painters. Early hand-painted porcelain from the manufactory now represents an important part of Danish decorative arts and porcelain history.