Polar bears in The Hague

In the products of Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Grøndahl, Nordic themes are never far away. In addition to the region’s tranquil landscapes and seascapes, the porcelain artists found much inspiration in Danish zoology: from chickens, geese and swans to all kinds of fish, seals and even polar bears. But few people are aware that two of these polar bears have made a permanenthome in The Hague.

In the autumn of 1909, Royal Copenhagen’s artistic director, Arnold Krog (1856-1931),visited The Hague to present the design for a large fountain for the Peace Palace, which was then under construction. This spectacular design by Carl Johan Bonessen (1868-1933) consisted of a round basin with a red granite rim, topped by several porcelain sculptures of polar bears and sea lions. It was to be the Danish gift to the Peace Palace.

However, the outbreak of the First World War threw a spanner in the works. For economic and organisational reasons, it would take years before the design could be realised and shippedto The Hague. It was not until 1923 that the fountain, made up of more than a hundred elements, was constructed and unveiled in the courtyard of the Peace Palace.