The month plaques are a series of twelve plaques that Bjørn Wiinblad designed sometime in the nineteen- fifties or sixties. The drawings tell us about the Danish weather and traditions in the twelve months of the year, but they are also a continuous story about a couple who fall in love and have a baby. Each plaque has a title written on the back, which will give you a hint on how the story progresses. These month plaques were sold from Danish stores for a period of about thirty years, so they are not that rare, but have continued to be popular to this day. Each plaque has its own priceless charm and beauty.
Henrik Ditlev Larsen worked as a wheel thrower at Lars Syberg Pottery in Denmark in the 1940s and 1950s during its heyday. He simply went by the name of Ditlev.
He worked alongside Bjorn Wiinblad who was just starting his career also around this time. Wiinblad was allowed to produce some of his own work at Syberg, and Ditlev threw pieces for Bjorn Wiinblad, who then decorated them.
Ditlev went on to start his own pottery in Lyngby, Denmark in 1956 – and later went to work with Bjorn Wiinblad again, when Wiinblad purchased Nymolle pottery around 1976.
The work that you come across from Ditlev’s own studio are always elegant and simple, and at the same time very precisely made. If you find pieces with handles by Ditlev they are usually thrown pieces attached to the clay body, and they show his high level of his skill as a thrower, as do his perfectly formed flat plates.
Ditlev Denmark, Studio BowlDitlev Denmark, SignatureDitlev Denmark, Green Gratin DishDitlev Denmark, Stoneware PlateDitlev Denmark, Stoneware PlatesDitlev Denmark, Small Studio BowlDitlevDenmark, Stoneware Teapot – Via Modapple on Etsy (sold)
Im always drawn to his glazes as well – often speckled as can be seen in the pictured examples, and never boring in colour. Most pottery I have come across by Ditlev is of a utilitarian nature and very high fired, tough stoneware.
Most pieces have rich, deeply coloured glazes and are made from a very dark brown clay that looks like chocolate!
Pieces of Ditlev pottery are either hand signed with a bold “Ditlev” cypher, or have a small round stamp “Ditlev Denmark”
Bjorn Wiinblad at Nymolle. Part 1 of a 3 part series of articles on 20th Century superstar designer, Bjorn Wiinblad (1918-2006)
Bjorn Wiinblad was a Danish painter, designer and ceramicist who worked in a wide variety of media including painting, set design, fabric design, and illustration. To most of us however he is known as one of the superstar ceramic designers of the 20th Century.
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.
