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Bing & Grondahl

Art Nouveau Neoclassic "Day & Night" Bisque Relief Plaques by Bing & Grondahl

Art Nouveau Neoclassic "Day & Night" Bisque Relief Plaques by Bing & Grondahl

$169.00 USD
$169.00 USD
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Vintage pair of unglazed bisque porcelain wall plaques "DAY" and "NIGHT" by Bing & Grondahl (B&G) of Copenhagen, Denmark (see notes below). Featuring the historic three-tower logo stamped above "DANMARK," this pair dates to a production window of 1915–1947, beautifully capturing the intersection of Art Nouveau execution and Neoclassical design history. These pieces are executed to resemble "Parian reliefs," a fine matte porcelain technique designed to emulate the flawless texture of white Greek stone from the island of Paros. The medallions showcase the famous "Day and Night" allegories originally modeled in Rome in 1815 by the legendary Danish Neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770–1844).
ICONOGRAPHY & ALLEGORY:
  • The Angel of Day: Shown in mid-flight scattering fresh rose petals to mark the arrival of dawn. She looks back over her shoulder at a small winged putto who holds an upright, blazing torch symbolizing the rising sun.
  • The Angel of Night: Depicted drifting with closed eyes, cradling two sleeping twin infants who allegorically represent Sleep and Death. Soporific (sleep-inducing) poppies are braided through her hair, accompanied by a hovering owl—the classic ancient symbol of nighttime.
SPECIFICATIONS:
  • Brand / Maker: Bing & Grondahl (B&G), now Royal Copenhagen
  • Origin: Made in Denmark
  • Material: Unglazed Matte Bisque Porcelain (Parian Ware Style)
  • Production Era: 1915–1947 (Pre-1948 "DANMARK" Backstamp)
  • Diameter: 5 ½ inches
  • Height / Thickness: ⅜ inch
  • Weight: 9.6 oz
  • Mounting: Built-in factory hanging channels on the reverse edge
  • Markings: Stamped on the back with the official vintage B&G three-tower logo mark
CONDITION:
Excellent vintage condition, no chips, hairline cracks, surface breaks, or professional restorations, figures remain completely crisp with sharp details. Please see photos for details.

 

Quondam Redux

NOTES:

Bing & Grohndahl was formed by Frederik Grondahl, a sculptor and the Bing brothers who were successful Copenhagen-based art and book dealers. The men wanted to produce high-quality, unglazed bisque figurines modeled after Thorvaldsen's works and eventually expanded to glazed tableware, noteably, its Seagull pattern (1892) and its legacy of creating the world's first (blue) Christmas Plates (1895). The company is also associated with perfecting the method of underglaze painting, the painting of intricate details onto the raw ceramic before applying a clear glaze and firing the pieces. It created the durable, watercolor-like finish that was the hallmark of Art Nouveau pieces. In the 1980s, the company merged with Royal Copenhagen, under which pieces continue to be issued.

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