Set of Four Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Butter Pats, Denmark, 1961

A finely detailed set of four Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Half Lace porcelain butter pats, model 504, made in Denmark in 1961. These miniature dishes bring together the manufacture’s celebrated blue-and-white decoration, delicate molded relief, and a tradition of tableware in which even the smallest accessory receives exceptional artistic attention.

Founded in 1775 under the patronage of Queen Dowager Juliane Marie, Royal Copenhagen occupies a distinguished place in European porcelain history. Its original Blue Fluted pattern, designated Pattern No. 1, established the blue-painted porcelain that would become a defining expression of the Danish manufacture. These dishes belong to that enduring decorative lineage, linking a mid-twentieth-century service to a tradition rooted in the eighteenth century.

Introduced in 1888 by artistic director Arnold Krog, Blue Fluted Half Lace enriched the original design with an intricate, non-pierced lace border. Stylized flowers and scrolling foliage move across the fluted porcelain, framed by ornament that evokes the delicacy of fine lace. The interplay of cobalt blue, white porcelain, and sculpted detail gives the pattern its distinctive richness.

Executed by hand in underglaze blue, the decoration reflects the skill and control of the porcelain painter. Fine changes in line and brushwork lend individuality to each piece within the established pattern. The transparent glaze brings clarity and luminosity to the decoration, allowing the painted motifs and molded surface to be appreciated together.

Butter pats hold a particular place in the history of dining. Especially associated with the elaborate table settings of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, these small dishes provided each guest with an individual portion of butter. Their specialized purpose speaks to a culture of hospitality in which the complete table was composed with care, down to its most modest element. This 1961 set carries that earlier dining tradition into the twentieth century.

For today’s collector, their appeal lies in their ability to present the artistry of a full dinner service on a miniature scale. They offer the pleasure of studying a historic pattern in detail, completing an existing service, or building a focused collection of small porcelain forms. Their compact size also makes them particularly suited to cabinet display, where the rhythm of four matching pieces highlights the relationship between shape, pattern, and hand-painted variation.

Combining Danish ceramic heritage with the intimate charm of a specialized table accessory, this set offers a meaningful addition to a Royal Copenhagen collection and an elegant detail for a thoughtfully appointed table.

Dimensions:
W 2.9 in × D 2.9 in × H 0.3 in