Frequently Asked Questions

If your are looking for answers to your Royal Copenhagen questions, you've come to the right place. Below is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions, and the respective answers as well. Hopefully you will find the answer to your question too. If not, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Collectibles & Plates

Where can I find information on old plates?

You can read more about Collectibles items from Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Grøndahl in following books

• "Platter fra Den Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik" in 1970, ISBN 87 0000 892 5
• "Bing & Grøndahl Christmas Plates, The First 100 Years" by the American Pat Owen in 1995, ISBN 0-913428-76-0
• "Christmas Plates from Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Grøndahl" by Lars Christoffersen in 2004, ISBN 0-7643-2089-0

The books can be obtained from booksellers or second-hand.

 

When was the first Annual Mug issued?

The first Annual Mug was launched in 1967 and decorated by Niels Thorson.

 

When did the first Mother's Day Plate from Bing & Grøndahl issued?

The first Mother's Day Plate was issued in 1969.

 

When was the first Christmas Plate issued?

Bing & Grøndahl issued their first Christmas Plate in 1895 and the first Christmas Plate for Royal Copenhagen was issued in 1908.

 

Why is there no star on Bing & Grøndahl's 1994 Christmas Plate?

The artist decides whether he or she wish to have a star in the motif. Since 1995, however, the artist has endeavoured to incorporate a star.

 

The plates from 1941-45 are missing from my collection. Were no plates issued during this period?

Plates from 1941-1945 are rare because not many plates were issued during the world war. The limited production was mainly because fuel was in short supply and the international transport routes were closed.

 

Don't Bing & Grøndahl issue an Olympic Plate any more?

No, unfortunately the last Olympic Plate in this series was issued in 1992. The Olympic Plate series was launched in 1972.

 

Is it all right to put my plates in the dishwasher?

Yes, if it is a blue or black plate decorated under the glaze (e.g. the Christmas plates). But please do not put your plate in the dishwasher if there is any gold, silver or other metal decoration or if the plate is decorated over the glaze.

 

Could you please tell me the value of my Royal Copenhagen pieces?

We recommend asking an antique dealer. Unfortunately we do not keep lists of the changing prices for old Royal Copenhagen pieces.

 

Where can I buy old Collectible items?

From various antique dealers or at following websites:

www.danishporcelain.com

www.collectiblestoday.com 

www.dphtrading.com

www.empiregifts.com

 

Would Royal Copenhagen be interested in buying old Royal Copenhagen pieces?

Unfortunately we do not deal in old pieces. We recommend asking an antique dealer.

 

Dinnerware

What is the difference between porcelain, faience and stoneware?

Today, porcelain and faience are made of the same raw materials, a mixture of kaolin, feldspar and quartz. The difference in the appearance of these two ceramic materials is due to the different proportions of the raw materials in the mixtures and in the different firing processes.

• Porcelain is fired for the first time at a lower temperature (about 950°C) and at a higher temperature the second time (about 1400°C). This causes the components of the porcelain to melt and fuse, so that the porcelain appears translucent when held up to a sufficiently bright source of light.
• Faience is fired for the first time at a higher temperature (about 1200°C) and at a lower temperature the second time (about 1100°C). As a result, the body becomes slightly porous and is opaque. Thanks to the relatively low temperature during the second firing, it is possible to use a far greater number of colors under the glaze than can be used on porcelain.
• Stoneware is fired for the first time at a lower temperature (about 1000°C) and at a higher temperature the second time (about 1300°C). It is sintered (vitrified) just like porcelain, but stoneware is neither white nor translucent.

 

Why do dinnerware series or individual items sometimes go out of production?

It is, of course, sad when a favourite series or individual items of a series are discontinued. When companies like Royal Copenhagen have manufactured a series for many years, they can see that because tastes naturally change over time, some items are not selling in sufficient quantities to be profitable, so they are discontinued. The only way to replace the items that have been discontinued is to look in the many antique shops or to search on the Internet.

 

Would Royal Copenhagen be able to appraise antique dinner services or services no longer in production?

We recommend asking an antique dealer. Unfortunately we do not keep lists of the changing prices for products not in our range.

 

My service has black streaks in the glaze. What has caused this?

The streaks are caused by cutlery marking the glaze. They can be removed using whiting, which can be obtained from department stores and hardware shops.

 

Is it all right to put a Royal Copenhagen service in the dishwasher?

Institutes and laboratories have carried out many tests to measure how well products withstand a thousand cycles in a dishwasher using a particular chemical or detergent. All services decorated under the glaze (such as Blue Fluted, Blue Flower etc.), in-glaze decorations or faience service from Royal Copenhagen can be washed in the dishwasher without problems. Most modern overglaze pigments pass the tests too, but will probably show signs of wear later on.

If products have gold, silver or other metal decorations, we recommend washing by hand unless the brochure states that the decoration is in-glaze.

 

Is it all right to use a Royal Copenhagen service in the microwave?

Yes, a porcelain or faience service from Royal Copenhagen is microwave safe as long as there is no gold, silver or other metal in the decoration. Objects with gold, silver or other metal would be damaged by microwave.

 

Is it all right to use a Royal Copenhagen service in the oven?

Royal Copenhagen services are oven safe, but the services have to be warm gradually and evenly in the oven. However it should never be exposed to direct heat from a naked flame or to rapid changes of temperature. The services should be allowed to cool gradually.