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The Seagull service was one of the most popular services in the twentieth century and is often highlighted as a unique example of characteristic Danish quality craftsmanship. The classic service is now being expanded to include an ultra-modern thermal cup, bringing it right into the future with a brilliant combination of masterly painting and world-class functionality.
When the artist and porcelain painter Fanny Garde created the Seagull service in 1895, she could hardly have imagined how popular it would later become. The naturalistic decoration with the white bird flying in a blue sky became one of the most popular designs of the period, and the Seagull service has been regarded ever since as one of the most typically Danish items that can be bought.
The legendary pattern is now being launched on Royal Copenhagen’s iconic thermal cup, which is famous round the world and known e.g. from the Blue Fluted Mega service. The thermal cup consists of two layers of porcelain with an air gap in between. This air gap provides insulation, keeping the contents of the cup hot or cold. When tea, coffee, cocoa or any other drink is served, the thermal cup ensures that it stays at the right temperature while the iconic hand-painted decoration pays a tribute to world-class Danish craftsmanship.
Legendary craftsmanship
The Seagull service reflects Danish nature and traditional Danish craftsmanship. The blue sea surrounding the country is reflected in the renowned fine porcelain. Its delicate shades of blue are achieved through the special process of underglaze decoration developed in Denmark in the 1880s. The artist who created the Seagull service with gold, Fanny Garde (1855 – 1925), was one of the leading developers of the technique, and she was responsible for the first popular dinner service on which this exceptional technique and craftsmanship were used.
A tribute to nature and light
The Seagull service with gold appeared early in the art nouveau period and expresses the new mood that was just emerging: the need for nature, light and air. Natural motifs were very popular, and Fanny Garde chose the seagull as her main motif. Graceful seagulls float on the plates and other items in the service. The light blue of the lower half shades perfectly into the white of the upper part. Seahorses form the handles, and fish scales form the pattern around the edges.
At the beginning of the last new century, seagulls were not as common around Denmark as they are now, and they were valued more. Fanny Garde set up a bird table for the seagulls outside her studio. As the gulls landed and ate, they provided the artist with inspiration and live models.
Together with the Blue Fluted and Blue Flower services, the Seagull service with gold was one of the most popular Danish porcelain designs in the twentieth century, and of course, it has its place in the National Museum of Denmark as an example of characteristic Danish craftsmanship.
The Seagull service with gold is dishwasher-proof and withstands up to 75 degrees in the oven and gradual cooling. The Seagull service with gold is not suitable for use in a microwave oven.
The new Seagull thermal cup costs DKK 399 and is sold exclusively at Royal Copenhagen’s flagship shop at Amagertorv 6 in Copenhagen and through Royal Copenhagen’s webshop at www.royalcopenhagen.com
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