In this lavish exhibition about the Flora Danica porcelain service at Koldinghus, you can explore the magnificent dinnerware and the myths about its role in international politics.
The World’s Wildest Dinnerware
With 1,530 intact pieces, the Flora Danica dinnerware is not only the best-preserved luxurious porcelain service from the 18th century but also undoubtedly the world’s wildest dinnerware in terms of splendour, storytelling and decorations. With its numerous pieces and meticulous reproductions of wild Danish botany on fragile white porcelain, the service offers an important key to understanding Denmark during the Era of Enlightenment. Like the Danish crown jewels, the dinnerware is still in use today for special occasions in the Royal House.
From encyclopedia to dinnerware – the creation of Flora Danica
The exhibition tells the story about the creation of the historical service, which is intertwined with the Flora Danica encyclopedia: the world’s most ambitious documentation of wild plants. The encyclopedia took 122 years to complete and features beautiful copperplate illustrations and precise descriptions of 3,240 plants.
This prestigious project aimed to gather knowledge, find uses for the wild nature of Denmark and lend lustre to the absolute monarchy. Around 1789, the illustrations were transferred to a lavish porcelain service. Exactly when this wild idea arose, who came up with the unheard-of concept of decorating porcelain with wild plants, and who was the intended recipient of this magnificent service remains a mystery to this day. Solid knowledge about the creation of this lavish service is as limited as the myths about it are numerous.
Did you know ...?
... that even while the service was in the making, there were rumours that it was intended for Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, as a diplomatic gift.
Did you know ...?
... that the copperplate illustrations from the Flora Danica encyclopedia are accurately reproduced on the many parts of the service. Tureens and plates are covered in wild flora – from algae and mushrooms to grasses from the moors of Holstein.
Did you know ...?
... that the table in the exhibition reproduces the described setting for Christian VII’s birthday banquet on 29 January 1803, when the Flora Danica service was used for the first time. The dessert table is set for The King and his 21 guests.
Did you know ...?
... that the tablecloth in the exhibition is a reconstruction of the one that was used for Christian VII’s birthday banquet in 1803. The zigzag serpentine pattern is striking but discreet and serves as a blank canvas for the wild flora.
Did you know ...?
... that the Flora Danica service has been used on special occasions in the Royal Family. Most recently, parts from the set were used at a surprise dinner for HM Queen Margrethe II on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2022. Photo: Keld Navntoft
Did you know ...?
... that the fragile Flora Danica service shows clear signs of wear and tear. The worn gilding, broken tips and shattered plates that are included in the exhibition illustrate that this is a service that is still in use, just like the crown jewels.
Follow the development of Flora Danica from Enlightenment project to royal porcelain in use
No other Danish dinnerware service can boast such a long history or a similar role in historic banquets – the Flora Danica service is and remains the world’s wildest dinnerware in terms of history, myths and decoration!
1752
1761
1789
1790
1794
1797
1802
1803
1841
1863
1883
1884
1990
1996
2022
Reviews
Plan your visit
Would you like a more in-depth tour of the Flora Danica universe? Read more about our guided tours and various activities related to the exhibition.
Special parts of the service
Flower decorations
The Flora Danica service includes a number of flower baskets for decorating the table during royal banquets. During the 1700s, real flowers were not considered appropriate on a banquet table, so the flowers are all made of porcelain.
Wild flora
On lids – such as this pot – and under tureens, wild flora sprouts forth from this lavish dinnerware. The Flora Danica service is not only a wild display of decorations but also of numerous functions, covered by the many different parts.
Wine coolers
The Flora Danica service includes three different wine coolers. Until the late 18th century, wine and wine glasses did not belong on the table. Instead, servants would bring glasses of wine from a nearby pouring table upon request.
Plat de menage
The plat de menage set was part of the regular table setting. The small pots held oil, vinegar, mustard and ground pepper, so the diners could season the food to their liking. The inscription on the base shows the Latin name of the illustrated plant.
Presentation tray
The square presentation tray is decorated with Rubus saxatilis, stone bramble – a rare plant in Denmark today. As an example of the uses of wild plants, the tart red berry could be used for compote, jellies or fruit juice.
The exhibition was made possible by the generous support of
We thank our external project partners
- Exhibition design
- JAC studios
- Graphic design
- Studio Atlant
- Lighting design
- Fortheloveoflight
- Interactive design
- Dark Matters
- Furnishings
- CPH Steel
- Media installations
- Taintec
- Serigrapher
- Nina Hafstrøm Jensen
- Textile
- Georg Jensen Damask
- Alarm
- G4S
- Special thanks to
- The State Inventory Commission, Georg Jensen Damask and Royal Copenhagen