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Posts tagged ‘Ellen Malmer’

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen Pattern 627

I recently discovered a design by Ellen Malmer for the BACA series at Royal Copenhagen I haven’t come across previously.

This simple and bold pattern is number 627, and it is placed onto form 3587 – a wide flat bowl in this case.

I love the bold simplicity of this design, and the contrast of the white background, dark brown outline and orange peel texture of the caramel coloured main design. To me it appears to be a simplified design of apples or pears cut in half, and repeated around the form.

I haven’t been able to find any other forms where this pattern has been used, but if you know of any I would love to hear from you.

Ellen Malmer 627, Royal Copenhagen Read more

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen 1965-1988

Ellen Malmer ( b1942 – ) is another of the great designers and artists who worked for Royal Copenhagen at the height of its popularity in the mid to late twentieth century. She was part of the group working with Nils Thorsson producing the now iconic Baca and Tenera series for Aluminia/Royal Copenhagen.

She trained at the Design School in Copenhagen and started with Royal Copenhagen as a designer in 1965 working there until 1988, primarily with Fajance ware. After leaving Royal Copenhagen she has worked in her own right as an Artist in the fields of textiles and collage/painting.

Each Designer who worked with fajance ware at Royal Copenhagen became known for their unique style of design, decoration, use of colour, and motifs – and the work of Ellen Malmer is no exception.

We often see only the most popular Baca and Tenera designs these days by Ellen due to their higher production, but they represent only a small range of her designs. I have tried to capture a wide cross section of her designs in the images below.

I really like the graphic and textural qualities of her designs, along with her subtle use of tone and colour. If I had to pick a favourite it would be the Nucella design dinnerware in blue. The shapes for this series were designed by Inge-Lise Kofoed and Leif Lautrup-Larsen, and the Pattern design by Ellen Malmer in 1966.

Royal Copenhagen, Ellen Malmer Pattern 962

Royal Copenhagen, Ellen Malmer Pattern 962

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen Pattern 962

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen Pattern 962

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen Pattern 617

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen Pattern 617

Ellen Malmer Vase Pattern 661, Royal Copenhagen

Ellen Malmer Vase Pattern 661, Royal Copenhagen. Image via Pinterest.

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen, Pattern 657

Ellen Malmer, Royal Copenhagen, Pattern 657, Image via Pinterest.

Royal Copenhagen Pattern 635 - Design Ellen Malmer

Royal Copenhagen Pattern 635 – Design Ellen Malmer

Royal Copenhagen Pattern 953 Ellen Malmer

Royal Copenhagen Pattern 953 Ellen Malmer

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Royal Copenhagen, Baca & Tenera Series

Royal Copenhagen,The Baca and Tenera Series

Both the  Tenera and Baca series from Aluminia/Royal Copenhagen were hugely popular in their time, and their popularity continues to this day on the resale market.

In a previous article about Nils Thorsson I listed the ranges he designed which includes the beautiful “Tenera” and “Baca” series in the 1960’s while Artistic Director of Royal Copenhagen-Aluminia. Tenera was the first of these 2 started c1958, followed by Baca c1964. Both series ran for many years.

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