C20Ceramics

Dec 8

Herluf Gottschalck-Olsen Studio Pottery Bowl

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.

Herluf Gottschalck-Olsen Chevron Pattern Studio Pottery Bowl — Herluf Gottschalk-Olsen Chevron Pattern Studio Bowl

Herluf Gottschalk-Olsen Studio Pottery Lamp

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

Dec 7

Marianne Johnson, Royal Copenhagen Tenera Series Bowl

Royal Copenhagen Mid-Century Bird Motif Designs

Bird designs and motifs were a prominent in the mid 20th century ceramics......and some of the best bird motif designs came from Royal Copenhagen//Aluminia, Denmark during the Nils Thorsson directed Baca and Tenera period of designs in the 1960s

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.