What Stilleben does

Stilleben is a privately-held Danish design company founded in 2002 by product designers Ditte Reckweg and Jelena Schou Nordentoft, both graduates of Danmarks Designskole with specialization in glass and ceramics. The company designs, produces, and sells a curated portfolio of tableware, glassware, cutlery, home textiles, and accessories, with all products designed by the two founders. The core offering centers on three sub-brands: Memphis Tableware (a ceramic series launched in 2013, manufactured in Portugal using high-fired stoneware with proprietary durable glazes and energy-efficient single-firing technology); Concave Glassware (a mouth-blown, handmade crystalline glass collection produced at a Bohemian glassworks in continuous operation since 1712); and Alma Cutlery (a metalware line developed in collaboration with designer Ulrik Nordentoft). Complementary categories include linen and cotton home textiles (cushion covers, towels, tablecloths, bedding) plus accessories such as tote bags and a published book titled 'Everyday Still Life.'

The business model is direct-to-consumer, generating revenue through one-time purchases via the e-commerce platform stilleben.dk (with international shipping to 9 countries including Denmark, the broader Nordics, Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands, and the United States) and a single flagship retail store at Christian IXs Gade 10 in central Copenhagen. Unit prices range from DKK 120 (guest towels) to DKK 1,020 (larger items), with free Danish shipping over DKK 1,200. A supplementary B2B/wholesale channel exists for retailers interested in distribution, though specifics are not disclosed. Marketing is primarily organic, relying on Instagram (@stilleben_dk), Facebook, Pinterest, an email newsletter with a 10% first-order incentive, and a brand journal/blog. The company operates with a lean team of 8 employees and shows no evidence of external institutional investment, fundraising, or a parent company. Manufacturing partnerships in Portugal (ceramics) and Bohemia (glass) form the operational backbone, with no in-house production facilities disclosed.

Name

Stilleben

Legal name

Stilleben

Website

https://stilleben.dk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stilleben is a Danish design company founded in 2002 that designs, manufactures, and sells ceramic tableware, hand-blown glassware, cutlery, and home textiles through DTC e-commerce and a flagship Copenhagen store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Stilleben generates revenue through direct sales of their tableware and home textile products via their e-commerce platform and flagship store. Products include ceramic tableware (Memphis series), glassware (Concave series), cutlery (Alma), home textiles (linen/cotton bedding, towels, cushion covers, tablecloths), and tote bags. All products are sold as one-time purchases with no subscription model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stilleben designs and sells Scandinavian tableware, glassware, cutlery, and home textiles. Its core lines are Memphis ceramic tableware (high-fired stoneware with proprietary scratch-resistant glazes manufactured in Portugal), Concave mouth-blown glassware produced at a historic Bohemian glassworks in operation since 1712, and the Alma cutlery set. A linen-and-cotton home textiles collection, tote bag, and a published book complete the catalog.

Product overview

Stilleben is a Danish design company founded in 2002 by Ditte Reckweg and Jelena Schou Nordentoft, offering a unified portfolio of design-led home products. The core offering consists of two main tableware sub-brands: Memphis Tableware (ceramic dishes launched in 2013) and Concave Glassware (mouth-blown glass collection), complemented by the Alma Cutlery line. A separate Home Textiles collection provides linen-based products including cushion covers, tea towels, table linens, and bedding. Additional products include a Tote Bag and a published book titled 'Everyday Still Life.' All ceramic products are manufactured in Portugal, while glassware is produced at a historic Bohemian glassworks established in 1712. The founders, both trained product designers specializing in glass and ceramics from the Danish Design School, design all products themselves. The company operates a flagship store in Copenhagen at Christian IX's Gade 10.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Memphis Tableware: A ceramic tableware series featuring bowls, cups, mugs, and plates in geometric yet graceful shapes, available in seven signature glazes. First launched in 2013.
• Concave Glassware

Products and services

• Memphis Tableware A ceramic tableware series featuring bowls, plates, cups, and mugs in seven signature glazes. The modular design allows mixing and matching across the collection.
• Memphis Mini Plate Smallest plate in the Memphis series, added in 2025. Ideal for small servings like cheese, pastries, or desserts.
• Memphis Bowl Ø12 Small ceramic bowl with 12cm diameter, suitable for dressings, jams, and small portions. Features a rounded base for balanced presentation.
• Memphis Bowl Ø17

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ulrik NordentoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUlrik Nordentoft collaborated with Stilleben founders on the design of the Alma cutlery set. The collaboration updated proportions for contemporary dining habits while ensuring perfect fit with the Memphis tableware series.
• Bohemian Glass Factory (historical)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA historical glass factory in Bohemia, in operation since 1712 (over 300 years), produces Stilleben's Concave Glassware collection. The partnership leverages traditional mouth-blown glass craftsmanship to create delicate, durable crystalline glass products.
• Portugal Manufacturing PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturing partners in Portugal produce the Memphis Tableware series. The current version of Memphis, launched in 2013, evolved from hand-turned production in Copenhagen to professional manufacturing in Portugal, enabling ongoing development and wider availability.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Heath Ceramics: California-based ceramic tableware manufacturer and design brand with strong craft heritage and Sausalito factory. Directly comparable to Stilleben's Memphis Tableware as a designer-maker of premium ceramic dinnerware with modular, mix-and-match collection design.
• Ferm Living: Danish design brand offering furniture, lighting, textiles, and home accessories with Scandinavian aesthetic. Comparable to Stilleben as a Copenhagen-based Danish design brand operating in premium home goods with similar DTC and wholesale distribution models.
• Georg Jensen: Danish luxury design brand known for silverware, tableware, and home accessories with heritage craftsmanship. Comparable to Stilleben for premium Scandinavian design positioning and direct overlap on the Alma Cutlery category.
• Iittala: Finnish heritage design brand producing premium glassware, tableware, and home objects with iconic Scandinavian design. Directly comparable to Stilleben as a design-led tableware and glassware brand with similar premium price positioning and overlap on the Concave Glassware category.
• Design House Stockholm: Swedish design collective and brand producing Scandinavian-designed home goods and tableware. Comparable to Stilleben for premium Scandinavian design positioning and curated home goods offering spanning tableware and textiles.
• Hay: Danish contemporary design brand producing furniture, textiles, and home accessories. Comparable to Stilleben for Danish design positioning, multi-category home goods offering, and similar global DTC/wholesale distribution model.
• Menu (Audo Copenhagen): Danish design brand (rebranded as Audo Copenhagen) producing furniture, lighting, and home accessories. Comparable to Stilleben for premium Scandinavian design positioning, multi-category home goods offering, and similar DTC distribution strategy.
• Normann Copenhagen: Danish design brand offering furniture, lighting, and home accessories with distinctive Scandinavian design language. Comparable to Stilleben for Danish design heritage, premium home goods positioning, and similar global distribution strategy.
• Marimekko: Finnish design house famous for bold patterned textiles, tableware, and home goods. Comparable to Stilleben as a Scandinavian design brand spanning tableware, textiles, and home accessories with similar DTC and retail distribution channels.
• Royal Copenhagen: Historic Danish porcelain and tableware brand with iconic blue fluted patterns and premium positioning. Directly comparable to Stilleben as a Danish heritage tableware brand selling ceramic dinnerware through similar DTC, flagship store, and wholesale channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Stilleben-100064757708541
• Instagraminstagram.com/stilleben_dk
• Pinterestdk.pinterest.com/STILLEBENdk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stilleben

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stilleben