KPM Denmark, Kjøbenhavns Porcellains Painting
KPM Denmark, Copenhagen Porcelain Painting Factory
The design below is commonly referred to as Black Rose
It was made by KPM or “Kjøbenhavns Porcellains Painting” (The Porcelain Painting Workshop of Copenhagen) which was owned by Niels Holst and Christian Knudsen who bought it in 1924. (Not to be confused with the German company Royal Porzellan Bavaria KPM)
They ran KPM Denmark conjointly with what became “Niels Holst & Son A/S”, and was later known simply as Lyngby until its closure in the 1960s. The stunning designs from Lyngby in the 1960s are better known, but those from its KPM era are less well known these days.
The very 1950s looking design is the sort of one people will either love or hate, with not much in between probably. I love the exuberance of the design – even though its not the sort of thing I would own as a dinner set.
This design reminds me how popular black or black/grey and white was as a colour scheme on domestic dinnerware in the 1950’s….as well as the frequent use of silver/platinum coloured trim on designs for the domestic market.
The shape of the black rose pieces is called Vallø. It was a form used quite frequently by KPM in the 1950s with different patterns.
KPM Denmark, Black Rose Design
KPM Denmark, Black Rose Design
KPM Denmark, Black Rose Design
KPM Denmark, Black Rose Design
You should normally be able to find a range of designs from KPM from this era online. The two below I found on Etsy writing this article.
KPM Denmark
photo dkvintage Etsy
KPM Denmark
photo dkvintage Etsy
Here are two other interesting pieces I have had from KPM before with a crackle glaze. They produced excellent quality porcelain crackle-ware pieces which are well worth seeking out.
KPM Denmark, Crackleware Vase
KPM Denmark, Crackleware Vase
KPM Denmark, Backstamp
There is a book available on this factory, and I found a copy in this Danish bookstore here: (in Danish of course).
PORCELÆNSFABRIKEN “DANMARK” 1936-1969 (HÆFTET) AF LISE SKJØT-PEDERSEN
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C20Ceramics 
Hello. I just received a set of vintage Empress cups, saucers, and coffee service from my mother-in-law. Many of the pieces have a single scratch through the Kjobenhavns mark, which I’m assuming are seconds, even though they look great to me. The ones without a scratch have a second stamp, usually a faint red number. Does this also denote that these are seconds? Not that it really matter to me, but just was wondering. Thanks for any information! Cindy
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Hi Cindy, yes that would be a second mark….although it is often hard to see why things are marked as second. I believe the second stamp is because some of the makers in Denmark around this time often bought “blanks” from other manufactures in Germany to finish with their own design, then they would overstamp it with their own mark. Sometimes you can see 2 different stamps – one German, one Danish….sometimes just a form number which appears to be the faint red number you can see. This reminds me I did a post on this practice on some Bucka-Nissen Denmark items on the previous version of this website which hasnt been transferred over, so I must do it 🙂
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