Vase; porcelain
The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, 1783

Different types of vases and jars were produced at the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory. The designs showed great variety, especially as regards lids, finials, handles, feet and bases. The patterns and decorative designs varied too – very much so.

The David Collection owns several types of vases created at the factory before the year 1800. A beautiful example is this egg-shaped, polychrome vase decorated with large, modelled flowers and floral vines, as well as branches that curl garland-like around the two handles. Everything is completed with vivid liveliness and finesse and painted in natural colours. On the edges of the base and lid are wreaths of leaves outlined in relief, accented in light green and gold. The two oval cartouches on each side of the body show the silhouettes of a man and a woman respectively. The lid finial, done in the shape of a red-cheeked putto, holds an oval medallion bearing an inscription: Madme et Mons: La Roche par leurs Amis C:M:H: Møller et I:M: Møller le 1mer de Jan: 1784. The jar was obviously a gift, but apart from the names, we know nothing about the identity of either the givers or the recipients.

A vase like this was presumably intended to hold potpourri – dried plant parts such as flowers, herbs or peel of citrus fruits – intended to infuse the room with their fragrance.