The mere mention of this exquisite pattern by Royal Copenhagen of Denmark is enough to raise eyebrows of even the most exclusive, worldly connoisseurs and those in the know.

Over the last 20 years our matching service has sold tens of thousands of fine pieces of Wedgwood, Royal Crown Derby, Herend, Baccarat and Lalique while we have probably bought and sold only about a hundred pieces of the Flora Danica pattern.

Why? Quite simply Flora Danica has consistently remained the most expensive china pattern in regular production for years and almost no one can afford it. And, if someone can afford to buy a set, they might prefer to spend the money on a new Rolls Royce, a summer house, or a child's college tuition at Harvard. One new chocolate cup and saucer retails for over $1300.00 (Ours sell for $495.00). So, you get the idea, a five piece place setting for 12 and a handful of serving pieces can add up in a hurry.

Lets forget about the price for now.

What are you getting when you spend all that money on a piece of Flora Danica porcelain? For one thing, you are buying a traditional pattern that was put into production over 200 years ago. The original set was produced as a gift for Catherine the Great of Russia who died before the set could be completed and given to her. Since then, that original set has remained the Danish royal family's china. Scads of other royalty have commissioned sets or have received them as gifts.

In modern day America, we can take or leave the archaic prestige that kings and queens of Europe once had. The real reward to owning pieces of this pattern is that each piece represents such a high artistic achievement in porcelain manufacturing and in the decoration. I'm not kidding…or exaggerating. To hold a piece of this pattern and examine it is an exceptional experience for the hand and the eye. The porcelain is Danish, so it has an almost masculine, sturdy Scandinavian feel. But, viewing the perfectly painted delicate flowers and gold details somehow simultaneously softens the tactile experience.

A close examination of the hand painting on the pieces reveals that each piece is truly a work of art. Each petal, each stem, each tiny hair or vein on a lilting leaf is a perfectly realistic representation of a flower from the land of Denmark. The painting is of such fine quality that a brush mark or any other evidence of the human hand is almost imperceptible. And yet, it is obvious that no decals or machines could ever be used to produce something so perfect, so unique, so beautiful.

So take the time to experience a piece of this beautiful art in your hands.

China Matching By Edish will be listing Flora Danica soon. Keep Watching.