Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Royal Copenhagen Knut Khyn Porcelain Figurine "POLAR BEAR" #825

$1,550
£1,178.71
€1,359.58
CA$2,171.27
A$2,430.08
CHF 1,268.88
MX$29,647.07
NOK 16,106.75
SEK 15,284.32
DKK 10,152.71
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

"Polar Bear" by Royal Copenhagen is a beautifully rendered polar bear with carefully crafted detail in its fur and particularly its facial expression. It sits with an upward gaze and appears to have just exited from its winter den not fully alert, but in the act of sniffing the air and reconnecting with life. It is unique in its contemplative state, not hunting, or roaring, or swatting a fish. On the verso is the Green Royal Copenhagen Denmark stamp with the numbers 0/825 and in Blue the three waves with the number 149. The creator of the "Polar Bear" is Knud Khyn, a Danish sculptor who lived from 1880 - 1969 producing sculpted animals during the early half of the 20th century. Knud Kyhn was a painter, illustrator and ceramic sculptor. He studied at the Artistic Study School and in the atelier of Karl Schröder in Lillerød. In 1903, he joined Royal Copenhagen, Kähler and later at Bing & Gröndahl. He became a prominent designer of animal figurines with earthy Sung glazes. Royal Copenhagen Denmark is officially the Royal Porcelain Factory that manufacturers prize-winning porcelain products. Since 1775, every piece of porcelain that has left Royal Copenhagen carries its factory marks; the three waves, the royal crown and the painter's mark. These are symbols of authenticity, the royal connection and the mark of handcraftsmanship. It was found in Copenhagen in 1775 under the protection of Danish Dowager Queen Juliane Marie. The three wavy lines above each other, symbolize Denmark’s three straits: Sorebaelt, Lillebaelt and Oresund. Around 1897 Royal Copenhagen seriously change its styles. These radical changes were made in 1883, when it was bought by Aluminia, an earthenware company. Arnold Krog, an architect under 30 with no practical experience of the industry, was made artistic director the next year, and rapidly shifted designs in the same directions art pottery was exploring, commissioning many painters to design for the factory. Japanese influences were initially very strong. The new wares soon won prizes at various international exhibitions, and most of the large porcelain makers began to move in similar directions, causing problems for the smaller art potteries. Shortly after Aluminia's acquisition, Royal Copenhagen production was moved to a modern factory building at Aluminia's site in Frederiksberg, on the outskirts of Copenhagen. At the Exposition Universelle (1889) in Paris, Royal Copenhagen won the Grand Prix, giving it international exposure.
  • Creator:
    Royal Copenhagen (Manufacturer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1923
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Bloomfield Hills, MI
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU7781233587942

More From This Seller

View All
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Figurine Knud Kyhn Monumental Lynx #2487
By Knud Kyhn
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
SALE ONE WEEK ONLY The monumental "Lynx", the snarling cat, was modeled by Royal Copenhagen artist Knud Kyhn, and created ca. 1950. It’s a monumental piece and remarkably well-preserved with an expressive snarl. The figure is marked by Royal Copenhagen Denmark as shown and numbered 2487. It is in excellent condition with no damage. Knud Kyhn (1880-1969) was a very productive artist who throughout his life created works of art that are still valued all over the world. In Denmark, he is especially known for his many animal figurines, which he created through his many years of service at Royal Copenhagen. He worked for the Royal Porcelain Factory from 1903 - 1910, 1924 - 1932 and 1936 - 1967, interrupted only by a period of work for Herman A. Kahler in Naestved in the early 1920s and at Bing & Grondahl 1908 - 1915 and 1933 - 1935. He was a Danish painter, draftsman and ceramic sculptor. He was the nephew of the landscape painter, Vilhelm Kahn, and was educated at the Kunstakademiet and Kunstnernes Frie Studieskoler in 1904. He worked for the Royal Porcelain Factory, and a period with Herman Kahler in Naestved. He continued the tradition from the Fynbos and focused on animals and their movements as well as on the play of light in paintings...
Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Figurine "MUSK OX" Erik Nielsen 1938 #530 Very Rare
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
The beautiful and majestic Musk Ox is captured in all its strength and quiet beauty in #530 by Erik Nielsen in 1903 for Royal Copenhagen. The markings on ...
Category

20th Century Danish Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "JEALOUSLY" Karl Tutter 1938
By Karl Tutter
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
"Jealously" is a porcelain figurine from Hutschenreuther of a nude woman and two fighting bears. Sculpted in exquisite detail by Karl Tutter whose name appears on the surface base. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold

Hutschenreuther Hans Achtziger Porcelain Figurine "TIGER" Marked #5 on Base
By Hutschenreuther
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Rich orangish gold and black stripe the Hutschenreuther Tiger that appears to be on the prowl. To see this tiger is to be reminded of the great poem by William Blake: "Tyger Tyger, b...
Category

Vintage 1970s German Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Royal Copenhagen Figurine Carl Martin-Hansen "A Man from Greenland" #12225
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
SALE ONE WEEK ONLY "A Man From Greenland" Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Figurine is the male figure from a set numbered 12224 (Woman) and 12225 (Man) in the Royal Copenhagen catalog nu...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Danish Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain, Jute

Royal Bayreuth Porcelain Figurine Registered "MOUSE PITCHER"
By Royal Bayreuth
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Royal Bayreuth Mouse Pitcher is glazed in soft grays with sparkling red eyes. This piece is extremely rare. The size being 8.5 inches high when normally this mouse is 6 inches. The bottom is marked: "Registered." The Royal Bayreuth factory has been the world's unparalleled leader in the production of porcelain for over 200 years, As the oldest Bavarian china firm under private ownership, the factory still stands like a fortress on a hill in the little village of Tettau. It was founded in 1794 in the Thuringian Hills, adjacent to what at one time was known as the East German border. Though delicate to the touch, it's durability makes it last for hundreds of years. The porcelain factory has survived a number of troublesome events, including the Napoleonic-Franco Prussian turmoil, two World Wars, numerous changes in management and ownership, and the great fire of 1897 which destroyed a number of important records and molds. The factory had its roots planted in 1792, when the famous, naturalist and botanist, Alexander von Humboldt, also an expert German geologist, was appointed by the king to research a possible factory site. The king desired a porcelain factory in the Thuringia province, and commanded von Humboldt to find the ideal location and personnel. After a lengthy study, von Humboldt reported to the king that Tettau should be the site of the factory and recommended that Johann Schmidt and Wilhelm Grenier be awarded the permit. By 1794, the factor was open for business. Anytime you see the Royal Bayreuth logo, you will see 1794 as the official date of commencement operations. Dinnerware, dining accessories, coffee and tea sets have been the company's main product line through the years. Just as fascinating are the wide number of collector items that the factory has produced. Included among these are many interesting pieces such as: figurals, rose tapestry...
Category

Early 20th Century German Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

You May Also Like

Royal Copenhagen Large Roaring Porcelain Polar Bear No. 502 by C. F. Liisberg
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Large roaring polar bear figurine/sculpture in porcelain. Designed in 1901 by Carl Frederik Liisberg for Royal Copenhagen. This example dates to t...
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

1920's Roaring Polar Bear No. 502 by C. F. Liisberg from Royal Copenhagen
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in Morristown, NJ
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Polar Bear Figurine, Model 502. Large roaring polar bear figurine in porcelain designed by Carl Frederik Liisberg for Royal Copenhagen. Originally design...
Category

Vintage 1920s Danish Bauhaus Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Royal Copenhagen Danish Stamped Signed Porcelain Fighting Polar Bears Model 2317
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully designed and colored figurine of two playful fighting/wresting polar bears by Danish Royal Copenhagen. Stamped, numbered (2317), and signed ("OP") on the base. W...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Porcelain Fighting Polar Bears Sculpture by Royal Copenhagen
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in San Diego, CA
Porcelain fighting polar bears sculpture by Royal Copenhagen, circa 1936 (per hallmark line over "O" in "Royal" on the underside). The piece is in very good vintage condition with no...
Category

Early 20th Century Danish Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

1960's Porcelain Polar Bear Sculpture Royal Dux, Czechoslovakia
By Royal Dux Bohemia
Located in Praha, CZ
White porcelain sculpture of a polar bear made in former Czechoslovakia in the 1960's by the famous Royal Dux.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Royal Dux Polar Bear Figurine, Circa 1920 — Czech Porcelain Elegance
By Royal Dux Bohemia
Located in Bochum, NRW
Rare vintage Royal Dux polar bear figurine, handcrafted circa 1920 in Czechoslovakia. Crafted from fine white porcelain, the sculpture captures a lifelike polar bear mid-stride with...
Category

Vintage 1920s Czech Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain