Blue Fluted Plain
or more than two centuries, the Blue Fluted Plain pattern, also known as "Pattern no. 1", has left its blue brushstrokes on our hearts. And like the whispering waves of the ocean, the hand painted blue lines tell a story; a story of a timeless aesthetic that has inspired all other Royal Copenhagen patterns. Reconsidered and painted onto new shapes and in new colours. Yet still forever captivating in its original expression.
For more than two centuries, the Blue Fluted Plain pattern, also known as "Pattern no. 1", has left its blue brushstrokes on our hearts. And like the whispering waves of the ocean, the hand painted blue lines tell a story; a story of a timeless aesthetic that has inspired all other Royal Copenhagen patterns. Reconsidered and painted onto new shapes and in new colours. Yet still forever captivating in its original expression.
TREASURES
from
the EAST
In the late 14th century, Denmark and other European nations became infatuated with the riches and crafts of the East. Especially China, the birthplace of porcelain, inspired with its porcelain, which represented wealth and refined taste, and which had become a valuable export.
As the sea route to China opened, ships brought home increasing quantities of porcelain wares decorated in unimaginable blue hues on a body of gleaming white. The early blue and white patterns of Royal Copenhagen found their origin in these treasures from the East.
EVOLUTION
of A FLOWER
Like the craft of porcelain hand-painting itself, the centered flower on the Blue Fluted Plain pattern has evolved over time. Reimagined and refined, the flower finally found its forever expression in the early 1800s.
1776
1785
1795
1810
The STORIES
in the PATTERN
The intricate details of the Blue Fluted Plain pattern all tell a tale of their own. Watch the pattern unfold and explore its elements here.
STYLE flower
A popular motif in the Chinese porcelain patterns of the 1700s, Chrysanthemum flowers were incorporated into the mussel pattern from the very beginning and are also known as "style flowers".
ROUND flower
Originally, the centered floral motif of Blue Fluted Plain was a Chrysanthemum, but as the pattern developed over time, the Chrysanthemum was simplified, and in the early 1800s it was replaced by the cinquefoil, a plant native to the Nordic region which is also known as a "round flower".
SWING
The flower vines are known as "swings", probably in reference to the artistic movements of the paint brush.
TREFOIL
The endearing trefoil with its three-lobed leaves grows on the swings of the mussel pattern.
RAY
The floral vines of the pattern grow from the centered circle and its grass tufts, also called "rays".
HOOK
On a plate, the hooks connect the lines and the centered decoration to the rim.
LINE
On a Blue Fluted Plain plate, the delicate blue lines divide the intricate pattern into four parts.
PALMETTOS
A classic Royal Copenhagen decoration, stylised palm leaves, also known as "palmettos", adorn the floral vines of the pattern’s luscious garden.
The STORY in the NAME
Blue Fluted Plain is also known as the "mussel" painted pattern, and though many old tales explain the meaning behind the name, no one knows for sure. Some claim the name refers to the pattern’s landscape of fluted and plain sections, which resemble the shape of a mussel. Others, like former Artistic Director, Arnold Krog, claimed the name derived from the cobalt blue colour used in the hand-painted decorations, a colour also referred to as "mussel colour".
Pattern no. 1
till today, 244 years after its inception, Blue Fluted Plain captivates with its classic versatility - its graceful decoration emphasizing the delicate form and careful craftsmanship of each piece. Eternally classic.