a Bergs Potter Journal post

Get to the Root of the Københavner Pot

It derives from royalty, has more than two names, and is our very first design. Discover the fascinating history and timeless charm of our beloved Københavner Pot. Learn how it originated from the Royal Danish castle of Fredensborg and evolved into a classic made by hand in Tuscany and Porto.
Handcrafted Københavner pot in raw terracotta, made in Tuscany.

Photo: Bergs Potter

Two names. So confusing! But for things we love, we tend to have many names. This is precisely the case for our ‘Københavner Pot’, which is also known to many as the ‘Copenhagen Pot’ or the ‘Castle Pot’. We know that two names are a bit confusing, but there is a good reason why it was initially named the ‘Castle Pot’.

Have a read, and get to know why.

Steffen Berg – son of our founder – found the inspiration for this pot design when he visited a former nursery. His eye got caught by a distinctive and majestic pot, which later became the foundation of what today is known as Bergs Potter’s Københavner pot.

rosa terracotta pots in tall and low style. Design is Københavner pot.

Photo: Bergs Potter

History and craftsmanship of Bergs Potter's Københavner Pot, from its royal origins at Fredensborg Castle to its handcrafted production in Tuscany and Porto. Quality pot

The Københavner pot by Bergs Potter in raw, Rosa terracotta.

The raw Københavner pots are made by hand in a small village near Lucca in Tuscany, Italy, using the finest Italian Galestro clay. The original pot design dates back to 1860, created at the Royal Danish castle of Fredensborg. Over time, the production of this antique pot moved from the castle to smaller potters in Copenhagen, where it was made for years. However, the craftsmanship was gradually overshadowed by the rise of industrial plastic pots in the 1960s.

Steffen Berg fell in love with the noble pot design, and today, our potters in Tuscany continue the tradition of the raw terracotta versions. Meanwhile, the glazed Københavner pots are crafted with equal care and artistry in Porto, Portugal. The pet name ‘Københavner Pot’ soon emerged, and this is today how it is mainly referred to by the Bergs Potter family.

Steffen Berg with the iconic Københavner pot, inspired by a royal design. Fredensborg Castle

Photo: Bergs Potter

History and craftsmanship of Bergs Potter's Københavner Pot, from its royal origins at Fredensborg Castle to its handcrafted production in Tuscany and Porto. Quality pot

The Københavner pot by Bergs Potter is available in numerous varieties – glazed, raw, as tall rose pots and low and regular pots.

View the entire collection here.

Words and photos by Bergs Potter.

We are always curious and eager to learn how and what you grow in your corner of the world – and not at least how you  are living with Bergs Potter.
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