Desiree Mother's Day plates with Danish childhood motifs
Desiree Mother's Day plates are a beautiful series of blue-and-white porcelain plates, issued yearly from 1970 to 1994. The motifs depict the children's world with warmth and presence – from play and flower picking to encounters with animals and nature. Each plate tells a little story that many parents, grandparents and collectors can recognize and enjoy.
The first two plates focus on the relationship between mother and child, while the following years place the children at the center. Here we follow them in small everyday moments where curiosity, imagination and care are allowed to flourish. It is precisely these simple and timeless motifs that have made Desiree Mother's Day plates popular through generations.
At DPH – Danish Porcelain House you will find Desiree Mother's Day plates from a wide range of years. Whether you are looking for a specific year for your collection or a personal gift with a special year, the plates are a natural choice. They are decorative on the wall, beautiful in a plate stand and bring a touch of Danish porcelain history into the home.
A personal gift with year and history
A Desiree Mother's Day plate is a gift that lasts for many years. Choose a plate from a birth year, an anniversary year or a year with a motif that evokes special memories. This makes the gift both personal and meaningful.
Since the plates are no longer produced, they are all used. This means that each plate has its own story, while you choose a quality product created to last for generations. Giving new life to beautiful porcelain is not only a joy for the recipient – it is also a more sustainable alternative to new production.
Desiree Mother's Day plates in interior design
The porcelain factory Desiree, Svend Jensen Denmark, began issuing its Mother's Day plates in 1970 – the year after Bing & Groendahl launched the first Danish Mother's Day plate. In the 1970s and early 1980s, porcelain plates were very popular and hung in many Danish homes. Later, interior trends changed, and the plates were taken down from the walls. Today, interest in classic underglaze porcelain plates is increasing again, and many use them as part of their interior decoration.
Desiree Mother's Day plates can be hung individually or grouped on the wall. They also look good in a plate stand on a shelf, dresser or in a display cabinet, where the blue shades come into their own. Many also choose to combine them with other blue-and-white porcelain plates from, for example, Bing & Groendahl or Royal Copenhagen.
All Desiree Mother's Day plates have hanging holes on the back and are therefore easy to hang up. With a diameter of 18 cm, they correspond to a large cake plate or a small lunch plate, and many also use them at the table. The plates are made in blue underglaze, comply with the requirements for porcelain intended for food use and are dishwasher safe. They are therefore both decorative and practical in everyday life.
Desiree Mother's Day plates from 1970 to 1994
The porcelain factory Desiree issued the first Mother's Day plate in 1970. The series continued every year until 1994, when production stopped. The first plate was designed by Maggi Baaring, the next by Nulle OEigaard, and from 1972/1973 Mads Stage was the consistent artist for many years.
In 1987, Svend Otto S. took over the task and designed the last plates until the series ended in 1994. The plates are made in blue underglaze and produced in relief over hand-carved plaster moulds. When the year's production was finished, the mould was destroyed, so the motif could not be repeated.
Desiree Mother's Day plates year by year
Click on the year below to see the price, stock status and buy the individual plate.
Title: A bouquet for mother
Artist: Maggi Baaring
The first Desiree Mother's Day plate shows the classic Mother's Day tradition with flowers as a loving greeting to mother.
Title: Motherly love
Artist: Nulle OEigaard
The motif shows a loving mother watching over her little child in the cradle.
Title: Good Night
Artist: Mads Stage
A calm and gentle year with a motif from the child's world.
Title: On the way home
Artist: Mads Stage
Two children are on their way home, probably after picking flowers for their mother.
Title: Daisies for mother
Artist: Mads Stage
A girl picks daisies for her mother in a simple and fine spring motif.
Title: A surprise
Artist: Mads Stage
Two children arrange flowers as a little surprise for their mother.
Title: The little gardener
Artist: Mads Stage
A boy waters flowers in a motif of spring, care and garden life.
Title: Little friends
Artist: Mads Stage
The children feed small kittens in a warm and familiar everyday motif.
Title: Dreams
Artist: Mads Stage
A boy dreams far away with his ship and his thoughts.
Title: Promenade
Artist: Mads Stage
A girl is ready for a little walk with her child.
Title: Little builders
Artist: Mads Stage
Children play with a train set and dollhouse in a classic motif from the children's room.
Title: Daily chores
Artist: Mads Stage
A boy feeds the hens with great concentration.
Title: My best friend
Artist: Mads Stage
A boy sits in the grass with his dog in a safe and loving motif.
Title: Unexpected meeting
Artist: Mads Stage
Two children walk together through the meadow in a light and summery motif.
Title: Who are you?
Artist: Mads Stage
A girl sits by the lakeside and watches a swan.
Title: A quiet moment
Artist: Mads Stage
A boy reads in the garden with the cat by his side.
Title: Meeting in the meadow
Artist: Mads Stage
A girl meets a horse in the meadow in a peaceful motif with nature and animals.
Title: The little fisherman
Artist: Svend Otto S.
Two children sit by a stream and fish.
Title: The little bakery
Artist: Svend Otto S.
Three children are in the kitchen making baked goods.
Title: Spring
Artist: Svend Otto S.
Two children feed a goat in the field in a spring motif.
Title: Spring outing
Artist: Svend Otto S.
The children are on an outing in the forest, where the beech has just sprouted.
Title: Beach trip
Artist: Svend Otto S.
Two children walk along the beach on a windy day.
Title: The goose family
Artist: Svend Otto S.
The children feed the geese with the farm in the background.
Title: In the garden
Artist: Svend Otto S.
Two children work in the garden, one digging and the other picking berries.
Title: Little artists
Artist: Svend Otto S.
The last Desiree Mother's Day plate shows two children creating their own little artworks.
Mother's Day in Denmark
Mother's Day is celebrated in Denmark every year on the second Sunday in May. The tradition originally comes from the USA, where the author Julia Ward Howe worked to introduce a special day of remembrance for peace. Over time, the day developed into the Mother's Day we know today, where mothers are honoured with flowers, gifts and small personal attentions. Although the date varies from country to country, Mother's Day is celebrated in large parts of the world.
A Desiree Mother's Day plate is a natural alternative to the traditional bouquet of flowers. Instead of a gift that lasts only a few days, the recipient receives a piece of Danish porcelain with history, which can be hung on the wall, displayed in a plate stand, or used as a plate. If you choose a plate from a special year, the gift becomes both personal and memorable.
The same year the Porcelain Factory Desiree released its first Mother's Day plate, the factory also launched the first Desiree Christmas plate. The series was released every year from 1970 to 2002 and features motifs inspired by H.C. Andersen's fairy tales. Like the Mother's Day plates, Desiree Christmas plates are popular today among collectors and anyone who loves classic Danish porcelain.
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