Porcelain Christmas Elves from Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Groendahl
Christmas elves hold a special place in Danish Christmas traditions. They appear on windowsills, shelves and among fir branches and candlelight, and many are brought out year after year. This also applies to the porcelain Christmas elf figurines from Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Groendahl, which have become a regular part of Christmas decorations in many homes.
Decorate for Christmas with Porcelain Elves
It doesn't take many Christmas elves to create a festive atmosphere. A small porcelain elf can look lovely beside a candlestick, on a shelf or on a windowsill, while several figurines together can create a charming little Christmas elf scene.
The elves can also be used as Christmas table decorations, perhaps among fir branches and candles when the table is set with a classic coffee or dinner service.
Some Christmas elves have been part of the decorations for many years, while others are more recent additions. And that is part of the charm of collecting porcelain Christmas elves – there is always room for one more.
Royal Copenhagen Christmas Elves
Over the years, Royal Copenhagen has released several different series of porcelain Christmas elf figurines. Among the best known are the figurines based on Harald Wiberg's illustrations and the small Pixie elves, which were introduced a few years later.
Harald Wiberg Christmas Elves from Royal Copenhagen
In 1998, Royal Copenhagen began producing its Harald Wiberg Christmas elf figurines. The series was introduced with an elf carrying a lantern and an elf with rice pudding. Following a positive reception, four more figurines were added in 2000: an elf with keys, an elf with a candlestick, a fox and a cat. The complete series therefore consists of six different figurines.
Swedish artist Harald Wiberg is particularly well known for his charming Christmas illustrations featuring elves and animals. His elves are reminiscent of those from old Scandinavian Christmas tales, where the elf lives on a farm, secretly helps with the chores and, of course, expects a bowl of rice pudding on Christmas Eve. The same atmosphere can be found in the small porcelain figurines from Royal Copenhagen.
Production of the Harald Wiberg Christmas elves ended in 2002. With only six figurines in the series, it is a manageable collection to complete, although finding every piece may require a little patience.
Royal Copenhagen Pixie Elves from 2001 to 2005
In 2001, Royal Copenhagen introduced its first six Pixie elves. These small porcelain figurines had a different, more playful appearance than Harald Wiberg's traditional elves, with each figurine depicting a little scene associated with Christmas.
The first six Pixie elves featured an elf with a lantern and cat, an elf with a woven heart, an elf with a paper cone, an elf with a bell, an elf on a sledge and an elf with a Christmas tree.
More Pixie elves followed in the years that came, and the series eventually grew to include 14 different elf figurines. Although they were released over several years, they share the same style and look lovely displayed together as a complete collection.
In 2003, the series was expanded with a small, snow-covered Christmas tree measuring 8 cm. Four more Pixie elves followed in 2004: an elf with a book, a sleeping elf, an elf with a honey heart and an elf with rice pudding.
The final four Pixie elves were released in 2005, depicting an elf on skis, an elf riding a Yule goat, an elf with a traditional Danish Christmas pastry and an elf with a pipe. That same year, two elf candleholders featuring Mother Pixie and Father Pixie were added to the series. They can be used with both traditional candles and tealights.
With 14 different elves, the Christmas tree and the candleholders featuring Mother Pixie and Father Pixie, there are plenty of opportunities to create a charming little Christmas elf village. The Pixie series is no longer in production, so finding the missing pieces for a collection depends on which figurines become available for sale.
Bing & Groendahl Christmas Elves
While Royal Copenhagen has released several series of Christmas elf figurines, the selection from Bing & Groendahl is more limited. One of its well-known figurines is the Christmas elf with rice pudding and a cat, no. 2305, which brings to mind the traditional Danish Christmas song "På loftet sidder nissen" (The Elf Sits in the Attic). The cat sits beside the elf, keeping a close eye on the large bowl of rice pudding.
The Bing & Groendahl Christmas elf figurine looks lovely alongside other classic porcelain Christmas figurines, but it also makes a charming little Christmas decoration on its own.
You May Also Like:
We are e-approved