A 'Blue Fluted Full Lace' / 'Musselmalet' ice bell with stand, Royal Copenhagen, late 18th/early 19th century.
Ice bell / ice cream bell. Decorated with underglaze blue and gilding. Finial in the shape of a tulip, the dome with pierced sculpted foliage, reticulated net pattern with flowers, oval reserves to the sides featuring flower bouquets. The plate with ribbed 'riflet' decoration and underglaze blue fluted pattern. Marked with so-called 'bølgelinier' or wave pattern and painter's mark "18.". Height 26, plate diameter 30 cm.
The bell with damages/repairs.
From the collection of Börje Johansson, a Swedish private collector, who focused on the most rare pieces from the famous Musselmalet service from Royal Copenhagen. He collected 1 000 objects for 20 years and now Bukowskis are entrusted to sell over 700 items in three auctions. The first part is offered online in November 2024, eighteen of the most spectacular pieces are to be sold at the Important Winter Sale 661, the last part of the collection will be offered in March 2025. The main focus in Börje Johanssons collection has been individual interesting pieces and not the full services. This is a collection comprising some of the earliest and most desirable Musselmalet items, but also later interesting collectibles, each piece made with the recognized and loved craftmanship of Royal Copenhagen, Den Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik.
Kongeligt Porcelæn 1775-1820 Blåmålet porcelæn fra Den Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik, Dorenfeldt, København 2004, s. 62.
One of the most iconic patterns from Royal Copenhagen is "Blue Fluted" also known as “Musselmalet” recognized worldwide for its timeless elegance. Originally inspired by Chinese porcelain, the pattern was produced by the german Meissen factory as early as the 1740s under the name " Strohblumen". Royal Copenhagen started using it in 1775, Blue Fluted has become a symbol of Danish porcelain craftsmanship since then. Under the direction of Arnold Krog between 1884 and 1916, the design was renewed, and three variations of Blue Fluted were introduced: Full Lace with a pierced lace edge, Half Lace with a painted relief lace edge, and Plain with an elegant painted border decoration to the fluted relief. Although the pattern is most commonly blue on a white background, it is also available in black, red, and green. Royal Copenhagen porcelain is not only timeless—it carries a legacy of quality, tradition, and artistic craftsmanship that makes each piece a masterpiece.
For 250 years, Royal Copenhagen has created porcelain with outstanding craftsmanship. Every step in the process—from the first sketch to the last painter’s brushstroke—shows meticulous and skilled craftsmanship, making each piece unique. Since its founding in 1775, Royal Copenhagen (Den Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik) has been a symbol of quality and tradition in porcelain. The techniques once developed by master artisans live on and are still used today to create each individual item with the same precision and care.