Royal Copenhagen & Anton Michelsen

A monumental spindle-shaped porcelain vase produced by the renowned Royal Copenhagen manufactory and mounted in sterling silver by the celebrated royal court jeweller Anton Michelsen of Copenhagen.

The vase and its extraordinary crystalline glaze were designed by Valdemar Engelhardt (1860–1915), one of the leading artistic personalities of Royal Copenhagen during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Engelhardt is particularly celebrated for his innovative crystalline glazes, which rank among the most technically sophisticated achievements of Scandinavian ceramic art of the period.

The vase is decorated with a deep cobalt-blue crystalline glaze enriched by violet cloud-like effects and remarkable crystal formations concentrated around the shoulder. The exceptional silver mount, executed in sterling silver (925/1000), features finely modelled iris blossoms on the body and cascading wisteria garlands around the neck.

The openwork silver base is adorned with a floral frieze and displays four enamelled cartouches bearing the Royal Coat of Arms of Denmark, the initials A.F. (Armand Fallières), F.L. (King Frederik VIII of Denmark and Queen Louise of Sweden), and the dates 20–22 July 1908.

The lid is surmounted by a royal crown and set with coloured glass cabochons imitating turquoise, lapis lazuli, and green ornamental gemstones. The interior is richly gilded and decorated with elegant foliate ornamentation.

The vase bears the Royal Copenhagen factory mark as well as the silver hallmarks of Anton Michelsen, Royal Court Jeweller to the Danish Crown. The silverwork was executed by the master silversmith Christian Friedrich Heise, whose maker’s mark appears on the base. Heise worked for Anton Michelsen between 1904 and 1932 and is regarded as one of the most accomplished Danish silversmiths of his generation.

This extraordinary object was created to commemorate the state visit of French President Armand Fallières to the Scandinavian kingdoms and signing economic agreements in the summer of 1908. During his stay in Copenhagen from 20 to 22 July 1908, he was received by King Frederik VIII and Queen Louise, making this vase a remarkable historical testimony to Franco-Danish diplomatic relations at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Height: 66 cm
Total Weight: 5,389 g

An exceptional museum-quality masterpiece combining the artistic excellence of Royal Copenhagen porcelain with the refined silver craftsmanship of the royal Danish court workshop Anton Michelsen. A rare presentational object of historical importance and outstanding decorative presence.

Condition: one silver petal is missing otherwise in excellent condition with no signs of damage or restoration, 1st quality.