G.O. Denmark – Herluf Gottschalk Olsen

Herluf Gottschalk Olsen, Denmark

It took a while to identify this Danish Studio potter – but as I have found in the past, things reveal their secrets eventually. With help from Maike of “DanishMood” on Etsy I was able to identify the maker of the wonderful stoneware piece pictured below.

I think that work by accomplished and experienced potters always stands out from the rest – and this is no exception with its rustic but refined charm, expert use of glaze, pattern, motif and skilled wheel throwing. It has a cream colours, brushed underglaze, with a deep turquoise overglaze – and the pattern as been drawn in the overglaze to reveal the colour beneath.

The potter turns out to be Herluf Gottschalk-Olsen 1915-1968 (Aged just 52).

There is very little information on the web about this potter, except that he worked for a reasonable time at Stogo Pottery (which was formerly Mørkøv Ceramics) founded in 1940 by Peter Hansen. It closed in the mid 1980s. I have had Stogo pieces previously, but never linked the two.

I’m unsure at this stage whether the pieces simply signed G O are from Herluf’s own studio, or whether he produced them while at Morkov/Stogo under his own name as was often the practise.

Some of the Stogo pottery pieces have the cypher of Herluf Olsen as well as the Stogo mark. They produced a variety of stoneware studio and domestic pieces.

The two pieces below are photos from Maike’s “DanishMood” store on Etsy.

If you know any more about this Danish Potter, love to hear from you direct (contact tab) or in the comments section.