Posts tagged ‘Danish Art Pottery’

Nov 27

Gutte Eriksen – 2 Recent Finds

I was very fortunate recently to find not just one, but two pieces of important Danish studio pottery by Gutte Eriksen. (read my previous post on Gutte here) The pieces were in an auction lot of assorted Danish pottery and I only recognised the first one as by Gutte – until I got them home and cleaned – as all of them were covered in years of dust and soiling. To my surprise there was a second and larger piece by Gutte which revealed itself when cleaned.

The first is a charming urn form with lid and handles standing just over 12cm tall. It has subtle cobalt blue decoration, and the textured ash and borax glaze she has become associated with. The tiny bubbles in the glaze are a characteristic of this glaze and caused by the borax content.

The second piece has a pattern around the shoulder which I have seen previously on pieces by Gutte.

Aug 13

Palshus Denmark

Palshus Pottery was founded by husband and wife team Per Linnemann-Schmidt and Annelise Linnemann-Schmidt in 1947 in the town of Sengløse just west of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Per came from a strong artistic background, having graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen in 1931 and subsequent work as a sculptor.

The studio name is an acronym of P(er),(A)nnelise (L)innemann, (S)chmidt and HUS (house).

The first items to be produced at Palshus were commercial wares in collaboration with Jens Quistgaard – being “Cherry Heering” Barware/Ashtrays for the Peter Herring Company, which they produced in very large numbers.

The early studio pieces from the studio were precise and minimalist in nature, with beautifully silken, matte haresfur glazes – mostly in subtle tones of either brown, blue, green or cream. The simple glazes and forms were a combination of Japanese and Scandinavian influences. Per was self taught in glaze technology and perfected these now iconic Palshus haresfur glazes. Per also often designed and drafted many of the forms and glazes and worked with other craftsmen and Annelise to realise the pieces.

Palshus Haresfur Glaze Bowl

At Palshus the 1960s saw a change in style with the use of chamotte (textured clay) along with impressed/sgrafitto patterns, used in conjunction with more roughly textured, glossy glazes.

Much of the output of Palshus was sold through Den Permanente in Copenhagen – as was the work of many important potters, craftsmen and artists at this time.

Palshus pottery is well marked with “Palshus Denmark” along with an inscribed number or number letter combination (which I believe is the form/shape number), and often a glaze or oxide colour number which is painted (rather than inscribed) on the base as a number or alpha-numerical code.

It will also have either Per’s or Annelise’s (or both) cyphers (PLS, ALS, APLS)….. but in the 1950s and 1960s several talented artists, sculptors and designers also worked at Palshus – including Kjeld Jorden (figurines), Jens Quistgaard, Billy Eberlein and Hugo de Soto (Artist/Painter).

The pottery closed in 1972, three years after the sad death of Annelise in a car accident at the age of 51. Per and Annelise had three children and five grandchildren including the ceramic artist/sculptor Annelise Linnemann-Schmidt (named after her grandmother) now back in Denmark after studying and working in the UK for several years.