Posts tagged ‘HAK’

Aug 3

Kahler HAK Denmark

The first few images below are of one of the most impressive and beautiful mid century pieces I have ever had from Kahler Pottery, commonly known as HAK (Herman A Kahler), Denmark. It is a huge stoneware bowl by any standards, with the most intense and luxurious shade of 1960s turquoise (35cm in diameter x 10cm high x 2.92kg)

It is signed underneath with the HAK Kahler mark and “Nils”- for its designer Nils Kahler.

Kahler Pottery in Denmark began circa 1840 and operated continuously until its closure in 1974. All pieces of Kahler Ceramics from this period have the HAK logo hand-signed, and often a a set of numbers (the pattern and shape number as per standard practice).

Nils Kahler (1906-1979) was 4th generation Kahler and in 1940 together with his brother ran the workshop. Nils was the artistic director and his pieces were all signed ‘Nils’ to the underside of the base. The brothers went their separate ways in 1968 and the family pottery closed in 1974 (although the HAK brand name has now been revived and rebranded, selling beautifully designed and made ceramics, including some of the historical forms from the original Kahler output – see their website here )

The marking of ‘Nils’ to the underside of pieces ceased in 1968. This piece dates sometime close to 1968 I believe.

The colour of this piece – the deep turquoise blue along with the herringbone pattern was a signature design of Nils Kahler, and one of the most coveted series of his designs.

Kahler Bowl – Nils Kahler 1960s , Photo Ray Garrod

Kahler Bowl with HAK and Nils Cypher – Nils Kahler 1960s , Photo Ray Garrod

Below: 2 more pieces in the same style from the 1960s, by Nils Kahler Read more

Jan 25

Danico Denmark

Danico Pottery Denmark c1900-1929

I used to find pieces like the one below from the Danish Pottery “Danico” frequently, but I haven’t seen any for some time. I think that they are so striking – and immediately recognisable. The pottery was exported in large numbers to the USA and other countries.

The pottery Danico was in a town called Horsens on the east coast of Jutland, Denmark. It started in the early 1900’s – originally from a Pottery begun by Niels Peter Nielsen. The company produced pottery fine wares in the “Skønvirke” style – which was mixture of Jugendstil (German), Art Nouveau (French), Arts and Crafts (English). It had a short life, closing in 1929.

You will often find pieces from Kahler (HAK) Denmark from this era in a very similar style – at times it is hard to tell them apart – (although HAK ceramics are always marked with the HAK sign). The similarity is probably also because two important potters at Danico came from Kahler to work at Danico – Karl Hansen and Frederik Jorgensen. Another of the potters at Danico was Leon Dissing (see next entry)