Posts from the ‘Danish Factory Potteries’ Category

May 25

Ib Antoni for Bing & Grondahl

Ib Antoni (1929-1973) was a very well known and much loved graphic designer before his untimely death in 1973. He is known world wide for his now iconic poster design, especially for the posters of The Little Mermaid, Tivoli and Copenhagen.

I never knew until I discovered the ceramic wall plaques pictured in this post, that Antoni had designed a whole series of charming and very smart graphical and colourful designs for Bing & Grondahl – I presume late 1960s, early 1970s going by the style of design. The use of flat, graphical areas of bold colour, subtle detailing and outlining, really makes these designs pop.

I’m not sure how many designs were in the series, but from what I can make out, each of the stylised creatures represented on the plaques has at least 2 different versions. Absolutely charming…and unique.

I discovered also that some of these designs were made into carpets/rugs for Egetæpper and Unika Væv Denmark.

Ib Antoni for Bing & Grondahl

Jan 6

Michael Andersen Denmark, Persia Glaze Bowl, Marianne Starck

Michael Andersen Denmark – Marianne Starck & The Persia Glaze

While the award winning and amazing “Persia” glaze at Michael Andersen & Sons was developed in the 1930s by Daniel Andersen (1885-1959) and used on pieces from that date, I think it is the designs of Marianne Starck at MAS & Sons in the 1950s and 1960s where the Persia glaze is seen at its best.

This complex glaze turns out differently on each piece ……

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Dec 29

Hjorth Pottery Denmark – Ulla Hjorth

Ulla Hjorth (b. 1945), the daughter of Eric Hjorth (who in turn was great grandson of founder Lauritz Hjorth 1834-1912) started at Hjorth Pottery on Bornholm, Denmark, in 1962 and worked there until its closure in 1992. Along with her sister Marie Hjorth, they were the last operators of the Hjorth Pottery from 1982 until its closure and then development into a museum in 1992-1995.

Ulla’s work is beautifully functional and elegant at the same time. I especially love her lidded forms. The decoration she chooses compliments, and is united with the form, and is not merely “surface decoration”. The decoration often consists of a combination of simple geometric forms with beautifully brushed line-work, on top of a simple stoneware glaze.

Her pottery as far as I am aware is all stoneware, with simple timeless glazes.

When doing a bit of research for this entry I noticed that the Bornholms Musuem has an updated entry on Hjorth Pottery entitled “The Women at Hjorth’s Factory”.

In the section on potter Ulla Hjorth it says:

Ulla was educated at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen in 1969 and is very much into the functional. The factory’s tradition was combined with new impressions from the School of Arts and Crafts. Ulla Hjorth works with stoneware and mainly manufactures utility items in simple, classic shapes and glazes. Her work has been characterized as utility ceramics with qualities beyond the purely practical. “I emphasize that a teapot must be functional and that it is united with the shape” she said.

See previous articles on L Hjroth pottery in the navigation table to the right of the page.