Annual figurines from Royal Copenhagen
Unlike Bing & Grondahl, who released their first annual figurine already in 1982, Royal Copenhagen started their series of Annaul Figurines much later. The first Royal Copenhagen figurine of the year was released in 2001 as a complement to this year's Royal Copenhagen Christmas plate. The plate shows a girl in the process of observing birds in the bird house through the living room window, which has inspired the first Royal Copenhagen annual figurine. Royal Copenhagen Annual Figurine from 2001 depicts the girl starting to feed birds in the bird house while Royal Copenhagen Annual boy Figurine from 2001 shows her brother with a gray cat in his arms. The Annual figurines from Royal Copenhagen are all designed by the artist Sven Vestergaard.
In 2002, the motif of the Royal Copenhagen Christmas plate depicts two children who have spotted a few deer, while the Christmas tree on sledge testify that they have just cut down their Christmas tree. The Annual Figurines 2002 Royal Copenhagen shows the two children, a boy and a girl standing with a Christmas tree and a pine branch.
Royal Copenhagen Figurines of the year 2003 consists of a set of two children on Christmas shopping, dressed in good warm clothes. Perhaps they have been out buying Christmas presents for their parents and are now excited and happy on their way home with their beautiful wrapped gifts.
Royal Copenhagen annual figurine from 2004 related to Royal Copenhagen Christmas plate 2004 with the motif of two children in the process of choosing Christmas tree. The designer Sven Vestergaard named the children Eric and Julie and the two figurines show Julie with a saw and a small Christmas tree, while Erik carries the Christmas tree on his shoulder.
On the Royal Copenhagen Christmas plate from 2005 the children, Anna and Peter, comes home with the Christmas tree on their sledge, so they will soon are ready to decorate it festively. The two Annual figurines 2005 from Royal Copenhagen show, of course, Anna and Peter - Anne with a basket of gifts on her arm and a cat at her side and Peter with the sleigh and Christmas tree. 2005 was indeed the 200 years of Hans Christian Andersen's birth and therefore Hans Christian Andersen was a recurring theme for Royal Copenhagen throughout the year. It is therefore no coincidence that the motif of the Christmas plate from 2005 shows the Hans Christian Andersen Museum here in Odense, which still today is a museum. In 2005, Royal Copenhagen launched a series of Hans Christian Andersen figurines with motifs from some of his most famous fairytales.
Hamlet and Ophelia was selected as motif of the Royal Copenhagen annual figurines from 2006. The starting point for Sven Vestergaard has been playing at the castle where Hamlet stands proudly with his arms stretched in front of him, while Ophelia plays lute.
In 2007 the names of the Royal Copenhagen annual figurines were Oscar and Susan. Both seen in their sailor suit. Oscar plays contentedly on his accordion and Susan dances happily around him.
Christmas Roses are in a central location on the collectible articles from 2008. They are seen in the foreground on the Christmas plate and the annual figurines 2008, Laura and Oliver, are in the process of picking Christmas roses for their mother. Oliver plucks flowers and Laura arrange them beautifully in a basket.
Royal Copenhagen Annual figurine 2009 shows Lucas, who is about to take his skates out from hiding, and Sarah standing with a gift and a teddy bear. In 2010 the annual figurines are Malik and Ivalu, two greenlandic children in national costume. Greenland was the theme of the collectibles in 2010. Greenland is a part of Denmark and despite more and more autonomy for Greenland and disagreements with Denmark, Greenland remains an important cultural part of the country. Our queen often visits Greenland and many Danes are working in Greenland with great joy. Greenland is a rough area to live in because of the climate, but also very beautiful.
Royal Copenhagen annual figurines from 2011 shows Anna and Ulrik, who are ready to decorate the Christmas tree. Ulrik has a nice flag chain with Danish flags in his hands and Anna is sitting on the floor with a Christmas heart in her hand and a curious and affectionate cat by her side. On the Christmas plate 2011 we see the finished decorated Christmas tree, while Ulrik is looking out of the window to see the guests comming for Christmas.
All the way back to the Viking Age, Denmark has been a proud seafaring nation, both fishing and shipping activities remain important acquisitions for Denmark. Therefore the ocean, coasts and ships have also been the inspiration for several plates, vases and figurines from Royal Copenhagen. Royal Copenhagen Annual Figurine 2012 shows William and Ida dressed in sailor suits. Maybe they wait for their father, who is on his way home for Christmas after a long trip on the seven seas? Ida scouts longingly out toward the horizon, where the ship will soon be seen and William has a flashlight in his hand.