Danish Mid Century Pottery

Jul 27

Max Thorsbro Pedersen – Dybbøl Pottery Denmark

I found the interesting little piece of pottery in the first 3 images some time ago, and only just recently stumbled on its maker. Originally I read it as “Dybdahl” but of course it is not even in their style. It is a piece by Max Thorsbro Pedersen from Denmark c1950s from his Dybbøl Pottery in South Jutland Denmark.

I found a little about Max from the Danish website for Broager.dk – a community website for Broager.dk, designed for the use of the citizens of the city and region around Broager. The website has some history of the Ceramics and Art of the area, including how Max Throsbro Pedersen fits in to the story.

“After the closure of the Broager Railway in 1932, the station building in Broager has been used for various purposes, most recently as a station inn. In 1937, manufacturer C H Clausen opened a pottery workshop, Broager Keramik, in the station building with Ingemann Nielsen as potter. In 1945, the pottery passed to Max Thorsbro Pedersen, who employed three journeymen, three apprentices and three ladies, who mainly decorated the pottery.

Broager Keramik produced small and large vases, Aladdin lamps, milk jugs, maternity pots, dishes and dolls’ frames and ashtrays.There is still a lot of ceramics from Broager Keramik, especially in Broagerland, where Broager Church’s twin spiers are stamped on the back of the goods.

In 1959, Broager Keramik closed and Max Thorsbro Pedersen opened a small pottery workshop in Dybbøl“

It is unclear how long the pottery run by Max Pedersen in Dybbol operated until….if anyone knows contact me and I can fill in the gaps. I would also be interested to see more of his work – there doesn’t seem to be much of it around online.

Max Thorsbro Pedersen- Dybbøl Pottery – Photo Ray Garrod

I also found these interesting pieces on Etsy:

Max Thorsbro Pedersen- Dybbøl Pottery – Photo via Etsy store “LikeADanish”

…AND this fantastic large piece I noticed on 1stDibs.

Max Thorsbro Pedersen- Dybbøl Pottery- Photo via 1st Dibs

Jul 25

1 Comment

Michael Andersen & Sons Denmark, Negro Series – Colour Variations

In addition to the strikingly bold, black and white designs there appear to be many variations of the series. Sometimes on the same forms, sometimes completely different forms.

Because there doesn’t seem to be much documentation about this series of designs – It is hard to know sometimes if pieces were designed as part of the Negro series, or simply colour variations added later due to its popularity which has continued to this day.

The red ochre, black and white variations seem to be more plentiful, but the turquoise and black designs very hard to find these days. The honey coloured and brown variations seem to be the hardest of all to locate.

Large Negro Series Centrepiece Bowl, Black Red Ochre and White, MAS Denmark, photo Ray Garrod

MAS Negro Series, Red Turquoise and Black Vase – Photo Ray Garrod

Michael Andersen Negro Series with Red Ochre — MAS Negro Series, Red Ochre Black and White Design, Photo from Henrik, Denmark

Michael Andersen Denmark, Group of Marianne Starck Designs Including Negro and some of its variations, plus other designs with similar tribal style designs from the same era by Marianne. Photo from Henrik, Denmark.

Michael Andersen Denmark - Marianne Starck Design — MAS Negro Series, Turquoise and Black Variation, Photo from Henrik, Denmark

In this image from the collection of Alan in the USA you can see 2 striking red ochre, black and white forms sitting with some of the stunning black and white forms.

Jul 12

Michael Andersen "Negro" Series, Marianne Starck

Michael Andersen & Sons Negro Series Variations

The "Negro Series" sometimes referred to as the "Tribal" series was designed by Marianne Starck in the 1950s for Michael Andersen & Sons on the island of Bornholm, Denmark.