Im very attracted to the smooth streamlined forms which Dane, Henrik Ditlev created on dark chocolate brown clay, along with his superb glaze colours.
Much of what he produced was designed for serving food – dinnerware, teapots, plate-ware, coffee pots, serving dishes and so on. Ditlev pottery was so well made and thrown, with tough glazes and superb quality clay – that when you come across it now, some 50+ years later – it is often still in excellent condition.
Interestingly, the type of plate and serving wares he produced is very much in vogue currently in top end Restaurants around the world. ( See my previous entry for Ditlev HERE ).
Recently I found in a 1967 Den Permanente Catalogue (which the Royal Danish Library has digitised here) a whole range of Ditlev pieces which were sold through Den Permanente in Copenhagen. These digitised catalogues are such a great resource, especially when trying to identify a date of production and how a whole production series fitted together.
Ditlev Coffee Pot – photo via “modapple” etsy – listed as item “d” in the catalogue page above.Small red bowl, or ashtray – appearing in the catalogue entry above in 3 sizes.Ditlev Serving Dish, appears as “e” in the catalogue page above.Ditlev Coffee Set – photo via “Foxbride” Etsy
Den Permanente was a very important and relevant Danish Design & Craft store in Copenhagen which operated from the 1930s to the late 1980s. It is particularly relevant to this site as many of the Potters written about here exhibited and sold work at Den Permanente.
The idea for the store was that of Kay Bojesen, a Danish silversmith – but probably today best known for his wooden monkey design. It became a commercial reality when the idea was developed by Christian Grauballe, director of Holmegaard in 1931.
Den Permanente operated as a “Permanent Exhibition of Danish Arts” and promoted the very best in modern Danish design and craft. A large range of objects were sold including furniture, glassware, lighting, ceramics, jewellery and textiles.
Den Permanente, Copenhagen, Photographer J.C. Raulston 1972
Items for exhibition and/or sale were chosen after being assessed by a “Jury” and the managing board. There is a fascinating explanation of the process and more written in 1965 by its director Esbjorn Hoirt which can be read HERE
The store was important not only in Denmark for promoting Danish Design, but world wide. Den Permanente took part in several international exhibitions including the Milan Triennales of 1951-1960; a 1954-1957 exhibition in the U.S. called “Design in Scandinavia” ; “Formes Scandinaves” in Paris 1958; Neue Form aus Denmark Germany/Austria 1957; and “Arts of Denmark” in the U.S. 1960-61.
It is fascinating to be able to read old catalogues from Den Permanente, and the Royal Danish Library in its fascinating Digital Collectionshas several Den Permanente catalogues which are well worth looking through. Many of the Danish Ceramicists written about on this site have work in the Catalogues. It is fascinating to see works by people such as Bjorn Wiinblad, Ditlev, Helle Allpass, Palshus and many many more.
OR If Etsy is unavailable, or you would prefer eBay - follow the link below (click on the image) . Basically the same items are listed, at the same price.
