Sold $10,200
March 18, 2023 Late Winter Gallery Auction
The luxurious Flora Danica pattern of porcelain tableware, with its
intricate botanical illustrations and Latin titles, was first commissioned by a Danish Crown Prince for Catherine the Great in
1790. It’s still being made today. The piece de resistance of this
highly sought after pattern is the ice dome, a tall, elaborately
pierced porcelain bell-shape dome on deep, circular, dished
stand. There is considerable debate as to its function –
beyond being flat out gorgeous. The most common theory
for its use is as air conditioner. Yes, when filled with ice and
placed upon a Georgian dinner table it sounds plausible it
would emit some cool vibes of one type or another. Who
else but the wealthiest of nobility could afford the logistical challenges of maintaining ice year ‘round in 18th
and 19th century Europe, especially enough to fill this
dome. If, as some say, it was for ice cream (also difficult to
picture), that’s equally privileged
This 20th century example of Royal
Copenhagen Flora Danica ice dome found
a new home at $10,200 in our Late Winter
2023 Gallery Auction..
