Between two favorite trade fairs, Heimtextil in Frankfurt and Maison & Objet in Paris, I scheduled a weekend of retail reconnaissance in Copenhagen. I’m glad I did! There was so much to see—shops, boutiques and department stores with unique messages and fabulous visual displays.
Among the city’s retail stars was the concept store Kitchen Living Dining. Found in the heart of Copenhagen, this establishment carries everything from dinnerware to bakeware, and from coffee makers to gas grills. For the Holiday season, KLD also presents a range of tableware and gifts from another Danish company, Medusa-Copenhagen.
The Medusa brand, started by mother and daughter Rie and Mai-Britt Bidstrup, was founded in 1997. Since that time, their company has offered items like porcelain plates and accessories with whimsical scenes. This duo, however, is most known for its fanciful seasonal figurines.
The product-development process for these light-hearted figures has been consistent for more than 25 years. First, the figures are shaped. Some are modeled in papier-mâché, others cut or drawn, and still another group is put together with glue and glitter. Then, finished models are ready to be cast into molds. Molded figures are hand-painted, so each has its own unique expression.
Given how much attention shoppers lavished on the collection at Kitchen Dining Living, nearly a full month after Christmas (and with no markdowns taken), I just had to take a closer look.
It was impossible not to be charmed by the feature display. The central arrangement, like a tiered cake on a table with striped skirt, was sheer confection. Ditto for the soft palette dominated by peach and sage. Reminiscent of the quirky Patience Brewster line, these figures are just as much fun, with all their playful, folk-arty touches. There were sparkly gold antlers on reindeer, gold polka dotted angel costumes with striped socks, glittery stars and flocked trees with pretty pastel ornaments. Each piece is handmade and hand painted, with a new Christmas collection each year.
Look below for a peek at Medusa-Copenhagen’s recent Christmas collection, snapped just last month at Kitchen Living Dining in Copenhagen.
