Royal Copenhagen Porcelain

Description:

• Royal Copenhagen's trademark, three wavy blue lines, has come to symbolize quality. Founded in 1775, the factory was a royal possession for a century before passing into private hands in 1868. Royal Copenhagen's Christmas plates are collectors' items. The factory has turned out a new plate each year since 1908, most of the designs depicting the Danish countryside in winter. There's a huge selection of seconds on the top floor, and unless you're an expert, you probably can't tell the difference. Visitors are welcome at the factory at Søndre Fasanvej 5 (tel. 38-14-48-48), where tours are given Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. (These tours, which occur at a location about 15km [9 1/3 miles] west of Copenhagen, can be arranged, along with transportation from central Copenhagen, by contacting the Royal Copenhagen store.) Purchases cannot be made at the factory.

  There are also various porcelain and silver retailers in this same location, as well as the Royal Copenhagen Antiques shop, which specializes in buying and selling antique Georg Jensen, Royal Copenhagen, Bing & Grøndahl porcelain, and Michelson Christmas spoons. In November 2006, the showrooms of this place were radically renovated into a pale blue-and-white design that include plays of both natural and artificial light, sound, and perfume.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010