Bing & Grondahl Porcelain

Founded in 1853 by figurine maker Frederick Villhelm Grondahl and art and book dealers the Bing brothers, Bing & Grondahl originally began as a producer of bisque figurines. These unglazed, white porcelains were modeled after the neoclassical sculptures of Bertel Thorvaldsen, a famous Danish sculptor. They eventually made dinnerware and coffee sets as well.

Bing & Grondahl's signature Seagull design was created in 1892 and featured flying seagulls against a blue background. It was extremely popular during the mid-20th century from the '50s to the '80s. In 1895, the company began their annual release of Christmas plates. This is a highly sought-after series today and accounts for a large portion of Bing & Grondahl's products.

The recognizable mark—the initials B&G along with an image of a castle—has been used since 1898. In 1987, Bing & Grondahl merged with one of its biggest competitors under the name Royal Copenhagen. Today, the company is still managed by descendants of its founders, the Bing brothers. Their collectibles can be seen in Buckingham Palace, the Royal Courts of Denmark, Sweden, and Great Britain, as well in as the collection of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Quick Facts

• Because it could be found in one tenth of all Danish Households, Bing & Grondahl's Seagull dinnerware series was named the National Service of Denmark in the '50s
• In April 2008, eight Bing & Grondahl biscuit porcelain plaques sold at Christie's London for $7,900, well above the estimate of $2,100-$3,000
• In November 2010, a pair of silver mounted Bing & Grondahl porcelain candlesticks sold for $4,750 at Sotheby's London