Danish Factory Potteries

Dec 7

"Negro" Series Plate, Marianne Starck, M.A.S. Denmark

Michael Andersen & Sons Pottery, Denmark

Michael Andersen and Sons Pottery (MAS), Bornholm Denmark.

Michael Andersen & Sons was founded in the 1880s (from an earlier 18th Century Pottery) on the island of Bornholm, Denmark – one of the major centres of Danish pottery production during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Jens Michael Andersen (1859-1931) who was the founder, had trained at the local Hjorth pottery.

His 4 sons worked in the pottery, and one son, Daniel (1885-1959) developed the iconic “Persia” glaze in 1935, which won an international award. The Persia glaze went on to be used on many designs well into the 1960s.

Persia Glaze Bowl by Marianne Starck, M.A.S. Denmark — Persia Glaze Bowl with design by Marianne Starck, M.A.S. Denmark – The cat designs by Marianne Starck on different forms with a Persia glaze have become very collectable pieces.

Michael Andersen & Sons, Lamp with Persia Glaze – A simple blue pattern on the Persia glaze like this one seems to show it of to best effect – highlighting the lovely mother-of-pearl crackle of the glaze

It is the “Art Pottery” of the 1950s -1970s which MAS are now best known for worldwide…but I also love some of the Art Deco style designs from the 1930s – although these are harder to find in excellent condition now.

Michael Andersen & Sons, Art Deco Era Bowl

Marianne Starck originally from Germany, was one of the top Ceramicists who contributed to the success of Michael Andersen & Sons Pottery in the mid 20th Century.

She started with the Factory as Artistic Director in 1955 and remained until its closure in 1993, designing many iconic series of which the “Negro” series is probably one of the most coveted now.

“Negro” Series Bowl, Marianne Starck, M.A.S. There are a large number of designs in the “Negro” or “Tribal” series – all very striking in design

Marianne’s work is usually inscribed with the initials M.S.

Michael Andersen Denmark, MS signature for Marianne Starck

Since 1930 items from MAS have usually been marked with the three fish stamp in various designs. Sometimes it is a simple label, other times just an impressed mark of 3 herrings.

Michael Andersen & Sons Denmark, 3 Herrings Paper Label

The 3 herring mark is also the official seal of the town of Ronne, where the factory was located.

The M.A.S. pottery was partly resurected by ceramicist Solveig Ussing, and it operates currently from a small workshop in Ronne, where some of the original MAS moulds are still used.

The photographs in this article are of pieces that have passed through my hands, so of course they only represent a fraction of all of the designs made.

Stoneware Bowl, Michael Andersen & Sons, Marianne Starck Design. The stoneware pieces from the 1960s and 1970s also have a presence and quality which set them apart from the rest.

Michael Andersen & Sons, Large Stoneware Bowl

Michael Andersen & Sons, Stoneware Bowl. These small stoneware forms from the 1960s – often with blue glaze, and textured clay are amongst my favourites from M.A.S.

Dec 5

Soholm Denmark

Soholm Pottery Is a favourite pottery brand amongst 20th Century Pottery collectors and design lovers around the world, in addition to lovers of good design looking for a feature piece in their home. Pieces like the massive floor vases and wall plaques make such an impressive design statement.

The range of pottery produced by Soholm during the 20th Century was immense. It was one of the largest and longest surviving potteries on the island of Bornholm Denmark, from its beginnings in 1835 when founded by Hans Ancher Wolffsen, to its closure in 1996.

A large variety of different ceramic artists worked at Soholm including some who have become very collectable. These are just some of the important Soholm Designers/Ceramicists from the mid 20th Century.

Noomi Backhausen (Jespersen) (b1938 – d 2011).
Paul Brandborg
Rigmor Nielsen
Maria Philippi (Soholm 1962-1964)
Svend Aage Jensen
Gerd Hjort Petersen (also worked at Michael Andersen & Royal Copenhagen)
Einar Johansen (worked at Soholm 1958-1966)
Josef Simon
Per Rehfeldt (the last significant designer at Soholm before its closure )

Most of the pottery from Soholm post c1964 is Stoneware (Stentoj in Danish) which has contributed to its longevity and durability. You will often see the base of a Soholm piece inscribed or stamped with the work Stentoj.

Many of these pieces are also stamped or inscribed with a series number, usually a series of 4 numbers which indicate the shape (or form) and size (e.g. 23cm).

Sometimes you will see a piece with one or two scratched lines on the base. This indicates it was a factory second, and sold at a discount or to employees. Sometimes it is difficult to see what makes it a second – but with Soholm from my experience it is usually something to do with the glaze quality or colour.

For example in the first image below of the spiral vase the glaze should be an even deep blue – but in this case it is marked as a second because the glaze is not the way it was intended – and has too many light areas. In the second image of a factory first piece you can see this blue glaze the way it was meant to be – a deep blue with even colour dispersion and brown highlights on the ridges or where it is thinner.

My favourite series of works are the series below, but once you start collecting Soholm, these are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Blue Series (EJ64) designed by Einar Johansen.

Søholm Vase, Form 3454, 23cm, Einar Johansen c1965

Most of the blue series items are signed EJ. The spiral designs are the most coveted of this series, but there are a number of variations.

The “Erica” Series by Noomi Backhausen and Paul Brandenborg.

The Cactus series, Noomi Backhausen and Paul Brandborg.

Burgundia Series – 1956

Forms by Holm Sorensen, and Décor by Svend Aage Jensen.

The largefloor vases in the Burgundia series are quite spectacular and instantly recognisable.

Granit & Nordlys (Northern Lights) Series

Designer– Maria Philippi – Most signed MP

Soholm Granite Design Jug – there was a brown and a blue glaze in this series

Soholm Nordlys Teapot - Maria Philippi — Soholm Nordlys Teapot – Maria Philippi

Soholm Wall Plaques

There are a huge number of stoneware wall plaque designs, and most seem to be from the 1950s-1970s. These are 3 of my favourites:

Dec 5

Piotr Baro, Wall Plaque, Knabstrup Denmark

Piotr Baro – Knabstrup

Piotr Baro is best known for imaginative and bold ceramic designs – usually wall plaques – produced at the Danish ceramics factory Knabstrup pottery. These designs really stand out from the crowd with their very stylised illustrations, often depicting animals or mythical creatures.

Piotr Baro 1924-1998 , arrived in Denmark in 1957 as a political refugee from Poland, and went on to become a well known illustrator and designer, and worked also as a teacher at Grafiske Højskole.

As a designer, he is best known for imaginative and bold ceramic designs – usually wall plaques – produced at the Danish ceramics factory Knabstrup pottery. These designs really stand out from the crowd with their very stylised illustrations, often depicting animals or mythical creatures.

Most of the plaque designs you will come across are in striking black and white – but many of these designs were also produced in blue and white, although they are much harder to find.

The 2 examples above are wall plaques I have had, and the 2 below are from Maike’s Danishmood Etsy store.

Piotr Baro, Dinnerware Design for Knabstrup

Piotr also designed some striking dinnerware designs like the one above, again from Maike’s “Danishmood” Etsy store.

Baro also designed a number of highly coloured ceramic plaques, but again these are very hard to find compared to the black and white designs. I managed to find 1 example on 1stDibs some time ago, below: