Imperial set

The publication of ”Flora Danica”

The story of Flora Danica stretches as far back in time as 1753 when Georg Christian Oeder (1728-91) planned the publication of the monumental set of books ”Flora Danica”, meant to help spread knowledge of Danish plants and their various qualities. The first instalment was issued in 1761, but Oeder probably never thought that it would take more than a hundred years before the work was completed. This happened in 1883 and the work, which is considered one of the greatest milestones in Danish book publication, comprised a total of 51 instalments, three supplements and a staggering 3.240 hand-coloured coppers.

The Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory's ”Flora Danica”

In the late 18th century the Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory decided to use this work as a model for a new set. This decision was most likely prompted by the philosophical and scientific ideals in the age of reason. The ”Pearl" set was designed by F.L. Bradt and produced in 1783, but it remains unclear exactly why this particular set came to carry the beautiful Flora Danica decorations. It is also uncertain exactly when the production of the set began. It is beyond dispute, however, that it was the flower painter Johan Christoph Bayer, hired by the manufactory in 1776, who made the decorations almost single-handedly.

The royal court and The Flora Danica set

The Flora Danica set was commissioned by Crown Prince Frederic, later King Frederic VI, who wanted to present it as a gift to Czarina Catherine II of Russia. The first parts were ready around 1788, but the Czarina died in 1796 and she never received the set. The commission, therefore, reverted to the king who received an incomplete set in 1803 with a total of 1.802 parts, decorated with 1.260 different motifs from the Danish flora and with the Latin name of the depicted plant on verso. The production of the Flora Danica set was then discontinued at The Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory, but it was resumed on the occasion of the alliance between Princess Alexandra and the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and in 1863 it was presented to the bridal couple as a wedding gift.

Some 1.500 parts of the original set survive today. They are located at Rosenborg Castle and in Christian VII's Palace, respectively. The large Flora Danica set that is offered for sale just now at Bruun Rasmussen's online auction is of a more recent date and derives from a Swedish private collection.

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