Rare Bing & Groendahl Seagull centerpiece with dolphin base and separate shell bowl (from around 1900)

Rare Bing & Groendahl Seagull centerpiece with dolphin base and separate shell bowl
A truly exceptional centerpiece from Bing & Groendahl, crafted in porcelain and decorated in the classic blue and white Seagull service with gold details. The centerpiece consists of a separate base and a removable shell bowl, which together form an impressive and highly decorative piece of porcelain art.
The base is shaped as three stylized dolphins rising in a spiral towards the bowl. The dolphins are richly modeled with fine details in fins, scales, and faces, while the entire base is accentuated with gold trim, lending it a majestic appearance.
The removable shell bowl resting on the base is decorated in the familiar blue painting with a light, translucent glaze and is finished at the rim with molded seashells. The combination of maritime elements - dolphins, seashells, and ocean-blue tones - gives the centerpiece a dramatic yet harmonious character.
According to a letter from Royal Copenhagen's museum director Steen Nottelmann in 1989, this type of centerpiece was produced from around 1890 until about 1950. Already in the first half of the 20th century, it was discontinued due to changing tastes moving away from lavish forms towards simpler designs, as well as the technical difficulty in producing them. For these reasons, the pieces were costly even then - and even rarer today (as stated in 1989).
This centerpiece is significantly larger than the smaller version known by some collectors of the Seagull service, and it thus stands out as a true masterpiece in any collection.
It is a genuine collector's item, which only very rarely appears on the market.