Danish Factory Potteries

Feb 14

J.H. Quistgaard Flamestone

Jens Harald Quistgaard ( 1919 – 2008) was a Danish sculptor and designer, known for his work with “Dansk Designs” where he was chief designer from 1954 -1984. Dansk Designs was an American-Danish collaboration in operation for over 3 decades between American businessman Ted Nierenberg and Quistgaard.

Quistgaard was undoubtedly one of the top designers of the 20th Century – creating what have become iconic designs in a multitude of materials including stainless steel, silver, ceramic, glass and wood, even designing architectural elements.

His designs have become synonymous with the “Scandinavian Style” where clean lines, elegant sculptural form and natural materials were all integral.

A bit of background from Wikipedia

Quistgaard was hugely productive and for Dansk Design where alone fashioned more than 4000 products. It is a production which spans a large range of materials and utility items, and which is created from a philosophy that utility items for the kitchen and the table should function together harmoniously. To set the table and arrange with Quistgaards designs became from the end of the 1950s and during the 1960s identical with “modern living” and Scandinavian style where clean lines, sculptural form and natural materials went hand in hand. Quistgaard also designed for Palshus Keramik, Eslau Keramik, Hermann Ole Jacobsen, De Forenede Jernstøberier A/S, Raadvad Knivfabrik A/S, Sival Staal, O.V. Mogensen, Slagelse Sølvvarefabrik, Kronjyden Nissen, Trip Trap, IHQ Designs, Gubi of Copenhagen.

My specific interest in Quistgaard’s work is with his stoneware designs for the Danish Ceramics factory Kronjyden Nissen which had started up in 1937, but one of his most important and most recognised early ceramic designs is “Flamestone”, released under the Dansk label and produced by ESLAU Denmark

The Flamestone design features a highly matte dark, chocolatey brown exterior, contrasting with a smooth white gloss glaze for the interior or “working surfaces”

Flamestone Lidded Sugar Bowl, Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Design

Flamestone Coffee Set, Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Design

Flamestone Coffee Pot, Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Design

Flamestone Jug, Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Design

(IHQ is an abbreviation of Jens Harald Quistgaard)

Feb 9

Gunter Praschak, Knabstrup Denmark – Wall Plaques

Gunter Praschak (1940- 2015 ), Wall Plaques

Gunter Praschak was a highly accomplished ceramicist and educator, with a large body of work which is well represented in galleries in Europe and the U.S.A. /Canada.

Im a lover of 20th Century wall plaques, and I am drawn to the wall plaques by Praschack which were produced during his time at Knabstrup Pottery in Denmark. His wall plaque designs are of animals and insects, some naturalistic – but the majority are stylised and bold, and typically mid-century in their design.

Gunter’s association with Knabstrup as a ceramic designer was between 1964 – 1970. During this time he also had his own studio in Copenhagen.

From 1973 until 2004 he was head of the Ceramics Department at the University of Fine Arts in Linz, Austria . Subsequently he worked until his death in 2015 as a freelance artist in his studio in Perchtoldsdorf near Vienna.

Gunter Praschak, Knabstrup Wall Plaque (Pinterest)

Gunter was initially married to the artist Waltraud Praschak-Thalhammer (married 1968-1988) who worked also at Knabstrup (1964-1970) and some Knabstrup pieces you will find – the forms were designed by Gunter, and the pattern or design was by Waltraud. His second wife the was painter Katja Praschak.

Gunter Praschak is regarded as an important representative of modern ceramics in Austria, in addition to his work as a university lecturer who influenced and helped promote the careers of many graduates.

There is a comprehensive Wikipedia entry for Gunter Praschak HERE

There is also a wonderful Danish site which has just about every design produced by Knabstrup including these plaques by Gunter Praschak. https://knabstrup-samler.dk/13252207/

Gunter Praschak Signature Knabstrup — Gunter Praschak Signature while at Knabstrup Pottery

Jan 25

Danico Denmark

The pottery Danico was in a town called Horsens on the east coast of Jutland, Denmark. It started in the early 1900's - originally from a Pottery begun by Niels Peter Nielsen