Teapot with stand and spirit lamp; porcelain, bronze 
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, c. 1779

This teapot was created at the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory around 1779, the year in which the Danish king, Christian VII (1979–1808), assumed financial responsibility for its operation. In the years prior to this move, the manufactory had struggled to sell its Danish hard-paste porcelain, which was a luxury item that only the very richest could acquire. The manufactory’s deficit grew to the point where it faced an imminent cessation of all activities. However, seeking the aid of the king was a wise move: On 30 June 1779, he signed a resolution which meant that he took over all shares in the manufactory. From that point on, it went by the name ‘Den Kongelige Danske Porcelains Fabrik’, literally ‘the Royal Danish Porcelain Factory’ (now Royal Copenhagen).¹

The teapot is a very fine example of early polychrome porcelain from the factory. Its spherical body is decorated with large bouquets and scattered flowers, while the spout is adorned with branches and gold. The finial on the lid is shaped like a poppy seedpod. The handle is made of bronze with a porcelain grip. The accompanying stand is decorated with gold edging and flowers in relief. Like the teapot, the spirit lamp is decorated with bouquets and scattered flowers.

In the late 1770s, it was by no means unusual for porcelain designs and decorations to be copied after the creations of other factories in Europe or after imported porcelain from the East. Therefore, this teapot is very similar to a Meissen design created in c. 1760. But because Danish porcelain production began so late compared to other countries in Europe, the Danish designs were, in terms of style, often outdated.²