An Interesting Story!
Ole Kortzau, a Danish architect, designer, and visual artist, brings a sense of nostalgia, nature, and storytelling to his creations. Since 2007, he has been crafting Easter and Christmas decorations for the iconic Danish brand Rosendahl, known for its timeless designs. His extensive work also includes collaborations with Georg Jensen, Kvadrat, The Royal Porcelain Factory, and Holmegaard. One of his most beloved collections for Rosendahl is the Karen Blixen Christmas series, which beautifully honors the spirit of the celebrated Danish author Karen Blixen.
Who Was Karen Blixen?
Karen Blixen, also known by her pen name, Isak Dinesen, is a cornerstone of Danish literature. Her memoir Out of Africa, which was later adapted into an Oscar-winning film, recounts her 17 years in Kenya (then British East Africa) where she ran a coffee plantation. Blixen’s writing in Out of Africa captures the vibrancy, struggles, and beauty of colonial life and pays homage to the people and culture of Kenya, as well as her own deep connection to the land.
After her return to Denmark, Blixen lived on her family’s estate, Rungstedlund, in Rungsted. Here, she continued to write, publish, and expand her works in both English and Danish, including Out of Africa, which was first published in English in 1937 and later translated to Danish. Rungstedlund remained her home and creative sanctuary, and in 1958, Blixen and her siblings founded the Rungstedlund Foundation to preserve the estate. Today, the estate houses the Karen Blixen Museum, which was founded in 1991 and has recently undergone extensive restoration.
A Celebration of Christmas Through Art and Tradition
The Karen Blixen Christmas collection designed by Ole Kortzau for Rosendahl is a nostalgic and elegant homage to the Christmas traditions that shaped his own childhood memories. Kortzau draws inspiration from the simplicity of nature, reflected in his designs’ organic forms and intricate details. The ornaments in the collection evoke the timeless charm of a traditional Christmas, embodying symbols, folklore, and nature motifs that celebrate the beauty of Scandinavian winter.
Just as Blixen’s writing captures the essence of her Kenyan experience with vivid imagery, Kortzau’s designs tell their own stories through symbols of Christmas joy. Each ornament is crafted to reflect archetypal holiday motifs, creating a beautiful interplay of art and nature that resonates with Blixen’s passion for storytelling.
Here we have a fine example of one of Ole Kortzau's, Karen Blixen Christmas collection designs, unused and boxed.