I recently discovered a design by Ellen Malmer for the BACA series at Royal Copenhagen I haven’t come across previously.
This simple and bold pattern is number 627, and it is placed onto form 3587 – a wide flat bowl in this case.
I love the bold simplicity of this design, and the contrast of the white background, dark brown outline and orange peel texture of the caramel coloured main design. To me it appears to be a simplified design of apples or pears cut in half, and repeated around the form.
I haven’t been able to find any other forms where this pattern has been used, but if you know of any I would love to hear from you.
The shapes for this very modernist looking series were designed by Holm Sorensen, and the pattern/glaze/decoration by Svend Aage Jensen in 1956. Many of the same forms were used on the now very rare “Zambesi” series by the same collaborators and other series in the same decade.
The base glaze on Burgundia is a satin black, and the pattern has various designs hand-painted in white, yellow and pale blue.
It is hard to know exactly how many forms there were in this series, but there seems to have been a large number – some of which are now very very rare – like the coveted Bull, and the Stork.
Soholm Burgundia Design, Ewer – Side ViewSoholm Burgundia Design, Candle HolderSoholm Burgundia, Bowl – photo via PinterestSoholm Burgundia Design, Vase – this form came in 5 sizes.Soholm Burgundia Group from Lauritz.com Auction House DenmarkSoholm Burgundia, BowlBurgundia forms, From the book “Søholm – Bornholmsk keramik”Soholm Burgundia Ewer Vase – Via Pinterest
The design below is commonly referred to as Black Rose
It was made by KPM or “Kjøbenhavns Porcellains Painting” (The Porcelain Painting Workshop of Copenhagen) which was owned by Niels Holst and Christian Knudsen who bought it in 1924. (Not to be confused with the German company Royal Porzellan Bavaria KPM)
They ran KPM Denmark conjointly with what became “Niels Holst & Son A/S”, and was later known simply as Lyngby until its closure in the 1960s. The stunning designs from Lyngby in the 1960s are better known, but those from its KPM era are less well known these days.
The very 1950s looking design is the sort of one people will either love or hate, with not much in between probably. I love the exuberance of the design – even though its not the sort of thing I would own as a dinner set.
This design reminds me how popular black or black/grey and white was as a colour scheme on domestic dinnerware in the 1950’s….as well as the frequent use of silver/platinum coloured trim on designs for the domestic market.
The shape of the black rose pieces is called Vallø. It was a form used quite frequently by KPM in the 1950s with different patterns.
KPM Denmark, Black Rose DesignKPM Denmark, Black Rose DesignKPM Denmark, Black Rose DesignKPM Denmark, Black Rose Design
You should normally be able to find a range of designs from KPM from this era online. The two below I found on Etsy writing this article.
Here are two other interesting pieces I have had from KPM before with a crackle glaze. They produced excellent quality porcelain crackle-ware pieces which are well worth seeking out.
