• Period:
  Other
• Origin:
  Other Europe

This splendid coffee cup and saucer is crafted in the distinguished Flora Danica pattern by the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, and features a hand-painted decoration of the spring vetch flower. From the delicate handle made to resemble branches to the gilt serrated rim of the saucer, this cup and saucer set reflects the meticulous and refined artistic skill necessary to produce such an exemplary dinner service. First created as a gift for Czarina Catherine II of Russia in the late 18th century, the pattern is now a symbol of royalty and prestige. It is based on George Christian Oeder's 1771 publication Flora Danica, an encyclopedia including 3,000 hand-colored copper plate prints depicting every wild plant known to exist in Denmark including mosses, fungi, ferns and flowers. Crown Prince Frederick, later King Frederick VI, was so intrigued by the tome that it inspired him to commission a dinner service for the Czarina.

The cup is inscribed with the Latin name of the spring vetch flower, and both cup and saucer feature Royal Copenhagen marks.

Cup: 3 5/8" wide over handle x 2 ¾" high

Saucer: 5 3/8" diameter