The Best Buys in Denmark

Danish Design: It's worth making a shopping trip to Denmark. The simple but elegant style that became fashionable in the 1950s has made a comeback. Danish modern chairs, glassware, and even buildings have returned. Collectors celebrate "old masters," such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, and Poul Kjærholm, whose designs from the 1940s and 1950s are sold in antiques stores. Wegner, noted for his sculptured teak chairs, for example, is now viewed as the grand old man of Danish design. Younger designers have followed in the old masters' footsteps, producing carefully crafted items for the home -- everything from chairs, desks, and furnishings to table settings and silverware. For the best display of Danish design today, walk along the pedestrian-only Strøget, the major shopping street in Copenhagen. The best single showcase for modern Danish design may be Illums Bolighus, Amagertorv 10 (tel. 33-14-19-41).

Crystal & Porcelain: Holmegaard crystal and Royal Copenhagen porcelain are household names, known for their beauty and craftsmanship. These items cost less in Denmark than in the United States, although signed art glass is costly everywhere. To avoid high prices, you can shop for seconds, which are discounted by 20% to 50% (sometimes the imperfection can be detected only by an expert). The best center for these collectors' items in Copenhagen is Royal Copenhagen Porcelain, Amagertorv 6 (tel. 33-13-71-81).