The Rörstrand Silvia Complete Guide: A Hand-Painted Floral Masterpiece Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Company's Founding
A Complete Guide to Rörstrand's Silvia — A Scandinavian Tableware Masterpiece Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Company's Founding
Sylvia is a series of exquisite tableware launched by the prestigious Swedish company Rörstrand in 1976 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of its founding . The white porcelain dishes, decorated with delicate hand-painted floral patterns, are one of the most elegant and refined series of Scandinavian tableware, and are loved by tableware lovers around the world.
In this article, we will introduce in detail the story behind the creation of Silvia, the designer's story, explanations of all items, and table coordination, based on the knowledge we have gained from handling many Silvias as a specialist Nordic tableware store.
(Rorstrand Silvia Cup & Saucer & Cake Plate Trio)
The birth of Silvia — 1976, Rörstrand's 250th anniversary
Rörstrand is the second oldest porcelain manufacturer in Europe, founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1726. On the occasion of the company's 250th anniversary (1976) , Rörstrand released the Silvia, a product that embodied the brand's prestige.
The back of the Silvia is engraved with "250 år Jubileumsservis" (250th Anniversary Tableware), highlighting the special status of this series.
The production period was only six years, from 1976 to 1982. This short production period is one of the reasons why the Silvia is so rare.
A miraculous collaboration between two female designers
Silvia was created through a collaboration between two of Rörstrand's most representative female designers .
Silvia Leuchovius — floral designer
Sylvia Leuchovius (1915-2003) was a ceramic artist from Linneryd in Småland, southern Sweden. She was active as an artist in Rörstrand for over 20 years and was known as the "poet of clay and color."
Leuchovius was an internationally renowned artist known for her relief-decorated ceramic wall plates with floral and butterfly motifs, but in the Silvia series she poured her artistic sensibility into painting everyday tableware. The delicate designs scattered with wildflowers are the essence of her art.
The name of the Silvia series, "Sylvia," comes from the name of the designer, Silvia Leuchovius herself.
→ See Silvia Leuchovius' ceramic works
Marianne Westman — Designer of Vessel Forms
Marianne Westman (1928-2017) designed the shape of the Sylvia tableware. Westman was a renowned designer who worked at Rörstrand for over 30 years, creating many masterpieces such as Mon Amie , Picnic, and My.
The delicate floral patterns of Leuchovius and the functional beauty of Westman's forms - the fusion of these two talents has resulted in the creation of the supreme tableware series Sylvia.
A mysterious connection with Queen Silvia
The year Silvia was released, 1976 , was another historic year for Sweden: on June 19th of that year, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf married German-born Silvia Sommerlath, giving birth to Queen Silvia.
In other words, Rörstrand's 250th anniversary dish "Sylvia" and the new Swedish Queen "Sylvia" were both engraved in Swedish history in the same year, 1976. The dish "Sylvia" is named after the designer Silvia Leuschowius, but as a commemorative dish with the same name as the Queen, it has become special in two ways for the Swedish people.
Why is Silvia so popular?
1. Delicate hand-painted floral pattern
The most distinctive feature of Silvia is the floral motif, which is hand-painted one by one. The design, dotted with small wildflowers, is gorgeous yet never gaudy, creating an exquisite balance. It adds a touch of elegance to your dining table. Even within the same Silvia, there are subtle differences in the placement and color of the flowers, a testament to the fact that each piece is handmade.
(Sylvia 21cm Plate – Beautiful delicate hand-painted floral design)
2. Versatile design that also goes well with Japanese cuisine
Silvia's white background with soft floral patterns is a perfect match for the Japanese dining table. Whether you serve stews, grilled fish, salads, or pasta, the tableware will enhance the flavor of your food. Silvia is a Scandinavian design that blends seamlessly with the Japanese dining table, which is why it is so beloved in Japan.
3. Only 6 years of production – a rarity
The Silvia was produced for only six years, from 1976 to 1982. All Silvias are vintage, and new ones will never be made again. Silvias in good condition are becoming harder to find every year, making them more collectible.
4. Our most popular series
More than 40 Silvias leave our shop every month . This is a series that many customers return to, wanting to buy matching items, and wanting just one more.
Explanation of all Silvia items
An astonishingly wide range of items were produced for the Silvia. Here are some of the main items we carry in our store.
Cup and saucer — Sylvia's signature
(Sylvia coffee cup and saucer)
The Silvia cup and saucer are the most popular item. The coffee cup is small and elegant. The saucer also has a floral pattern, making it a beautiful piece even without the cup.
- Coffee cup and saucer —A classic for entertaining guests.
- Teacup and saucer —A rare size, slightly larger than a coffee cup
Plates — the centerpiece of the table
(Sylvia 24cm Dinner Plate – Perfect for main dishes)
- 17cm Cake Plate —The perfect size for cakes and side plates. An essential piece for any trio.
- 21cm Plate —The most convenient size for salads, pasta, and breakfast.
- 24cm Dinner Plate —For main dishes. A centerpiece for your everyday dining table.
Deep plates and bowls — No. 1 in practicality
(Sylvia Deep Plate — Ideal for pasta, soups, and stews)
- Deep plates (pasta/soup plates) — for pasta, soup, curries, and stews. The most practical item.
- Bowls —Suitable for salads, cereal, and fruit. Deep and convenient.
- Large bowls —for the family dinner table, salad bowls, fruit serving bowls
- Extra-large bowl —perfect for entertaining. A focal point on the table.
Square Plates — Modern Accents
(Silvia medium size square plate)
- Small Square Plate —For Japanese sweets, chocolates, and small snacks
- Medium Square Plate —Perfect for sushi and sandwiches
- Large square plate —for the center of the table, cheese or fruit platters
- Extra-large square plate —a striking size that stands out on any dining table.
Pots, pitchers, etc.
(Sylvia Coffee Pot)
- Teapot —Elegant form. The centerpiece of your tea time.
- Coffee pot —Slenderer and more elegant than a teapot
- Large pitcher - Perfect for water pitchers. Also beautiful as a flower vase.
- Creamer - Milk pitcher. A great addition to your coffee time.
- Sugar bowl —Can be used as a sugar container or a small item holder
- Egg cups —for boiled eggs at breakfast. Cute for home decor, too.
- Soup Turin - a large soup pot with a lid. An extremely rare item.
How to read the backstamp
(The back of the Silvia – Rörstrand crown mark and 250th anniversary engraving)
The following information is engraved on the back of the Silvia:
- Rörstrand Crown Mark —The crown logo is the symbol of Rörstrand
- "Sylvia" — Series name
- "250 år Jubileumsservis" — 250th anniversary commemorative dish inscription
- "SWEDEN" — Made in Sweden
The presence of all these markings is proof that the Silvia is genuine.
Silvia's table setting
(Sylvia Trio Set — A Coordinated Table Setting)
We will suggest recommended table settings that will bring out the best in Silvia.
For everyday dining — a basic 3-piece set
The first three items you'll want to get are a cup and saucer, a 21cm plate, and a deep plate . From bread and coffee for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and the main dish for dinner, these three items will add a touch of elegance to your everyday dining table.
Entertaining — Trio + Dinner Plate
This trio of cups, saucers, and cake plates is paired with a 24cm dinner plate . When you're hosting guests, use the cake plate for sweets and the dinner plate for the main course. A coordinated table setting will create a special atmosphere.
Scandinavian tableware mix coordination
Silvia pairs perfectly with other Nordic tableware.
- Mon Amie and Mon Amie are both Rorstrand floral designs. The contrast between Silvia's hand-drawn designs and Mon Amie's stencils is delightful.
- Arabian Coralie and the gorgeous harmony of pink tableware and Sylvia floral patterns
- Gustavsberg Prunus — Nordic tableware with similar floral designs. Blue plum blossoms and colorful flowers from Silvia.
Silvia condition and how to choose
(Sylvia's hand-painted floral design - the condition of the delicate painting determines its condition.)
Here are some points to consider when choosing a vintage Silvia.
The difference between "extremely beautiful" and "beautiful"
We categorize the conditions in detail.
- Very good condition - Almost no signs of use, and the hand-drawn designs are vivid.
- Minor condition - slight signs of use, but no peeling or damage to the design
- Imperfect - Items with scratches, small dents, or chips. Good enough for everyday use and reasonably priced.
Due to the delicate hand-painted designs of Sylvia, we recommend hand washing and not using the dishwasher.
→ Click here for details on the condition standards for vintage tableware
Our Silvia popularity ranking
(Sylvia Eggcups — even the smallest items are hand-painted with flowers.)
These are the top 5 most popular Silvia items based on actual sales data.
- Cup, Saucer, and Cake Plate Trio —A perennial favorite. A popular gift idea.
- 21cm Plates - No.1 in ease of use. Many people buy in bulk.
- Deep dish (pasta dish) — A staple on the daily dining table. Highest repeat rate
- 24cm Dinner Plate —An essential piece for main dishes
- Bowls —the perfect all-purpose bowl for salads, cereal, and fruit
Other masterpieces by the designers
Works by Silvia Leuchovius
(Silvia Leuchovius ceramic panel – a beautiful atelier piece featuring a bird motif in relief)
Silvia Leuschowius , who designed the Silvia floral pattern, is known not only for her tableware series but also for her ceramic plates (wall plates) with beautiful reliefs of flowers and butterflies. Her ceramic plates are works of art that are also housed in the National Museum of Art in Stockholm and Laeska Museum in Gothenburg.
→ See Silvia Leuchovius' ceramic works
Marianne Westman's work
Marianne Westman , who designed the Silvia's form, has also created many other masterpieces.
- Mon Amie — Sweden's most beloved dish, featuring blue floral stencils
- Picknick — Colorful fruit and flower designs
- My — delicate line drawings
Summary — Living with Silvia
Silvia is a tableware created by two talented female designers, representing the culmination of Rörstrand's 250-year history. It is an exceptional piece of Scandinavian tableware, combining the delicate floral designs of Silvia Leuchovius and the functional beauty of Marianne Westman.
Although it was only produced for six years, it is still loved by dining tables in Japan and around the world, nearly 50 years later. Starting with just one piece, Silvia's tableware has the charm of naturally growing into cups, plates, bowls, and more items.
At Tackshomücke, a Nordic tableware store, we purchase genuine Silvia pieces directly from Sweden and carefully sort them by condition for sale. We hope you will find your favorite piece, taking into account the individual differences between each piece.
→ All Rörstrand products | Monami Collection | Silvia Leuchovius ceramic plates | Basic knowledge of Scandinavian tableware
