The Bojesen’s patio at the family home Bella Vista near Bellevue, north of Copenhagen, was full of flowers, wicker furniture – and birds.

• There can be no doubt that this is the source of Kay Bojesen’s inspiration for the carefree songbird that he designed in the 1950s and hand-painted in cheerful colours.
• Even with the naked eye, it is clear that Ruth, Pop, Otto, Kay, Peter and Sunshine belong to the Bojesen animal family.
• All six birds have a clean, modern expression, stripped of superfluous details.
• And though clearly not an attempt to imitate nature, the birds are still so lifelike that it is easy to imagine them breaking out in song as the sun rises over the Sound.
• Sunshine: The last songbird represents one of the five original colour combinations created by Bojesen. Can you imagine a better start to the day than being showered in birdsong from a flock of colourful Sunshines? Green like the hope of spring!