Bing & Grøndahl Christmas Plate 1896 New Moon over the Snow-Covered Fir Trees

New Moon over the Snow-Covered Fir Trees from 1896 is one of the early Bing & Grøndahl Christmas plates and carries the entire quiet, poetic winter atmosphere that made the series so beloved from the beginning. The motif is simple, but effective: the slender crescent moon shines over snow-laden fir trees, where the soft white shapes stand beautifully against the deep blue background. It is a winter scene with calm, cold, and reflection, but also with the special anticipation that is associated with the dark evenings of Christmas and the light in the sky.

Frederik August Hallin has with a sure hand created a motif in which nature itself is the story. The snow-covered branches fill the foreground and give the plate an almost fairy-tale-like expression, while the new moon above the treetops opens the picture and adds depth. It is precisely the interplay between the dark night sky and the white layers of snow that makes this year characteristic. It appears both decorative and full of atmosphere, and it shows how strongly Bing & Grøndahl worked early on with winter's simple symbols.

The 1896 edition is particularly interesting because it lies very close to the beginning of the series. Bing & Grøndahl's Christmas plates started in 1895 and were thus the world's first Christmas plate series. Since 1895, a new plate has been issued every year. This plate is therefore among the very first editions and has a natural place in the story of Danish Christmas porcelain and collecting history.

As an early release, it also has appeal for collectors seeking the first motifs in the series. Each edition was produced in a limited number, and after the last firing of the year, the mold was destroyed. This means that the 1896 edition is a closed year, which could not later be put into production again. For many, this is precisely part of the charm of older Christmas plates: they carry both artistic quality, history, and the feeling of preserving a piece of Danish design tradition.

Today, such an early Christmas plate can give the home personality as wall decoration in the winter months or be included in a collection of classic porcelain with history and soul. The early plates also remind us of the value of preserving beautiful craftsmanship that is created to last through generations.

Product information:
Manufacturer: Bing & Grøndahl
Artist: Frederik August Hallin
Series: Christmas plates
Edition: 1896
Dimensions: Ø 18 cm
Hanging: Two holes on the back for hanging