Posts tagged ‘Stoneware’

Dec 29

Hjorth Pottery Denmark – Ulla Hjorth

Ulla Hjorth (b. 1945), the daughter of Eric Hjorth (who in turn was great grandson of founder Lauritz Hjorth 1834-1912) started at Hjorth Pottery on Bornholm, Denmark, in 1962 and worked there until its closure in 1992. Along with her sister Marie Hjorth, they were the last operators of the Hjorth Pottery from 1982 until its closure and then development into a museum in 1992-1995.

Ulla’s work is beautifully functional and elegant at the same time. I especially love her lidded forms. The decoration she chooses compliments, and is united with the form, and is not merely “surface decoration”. The decoration often consists of a combination of simple geometric forms with beautifully brushed line-work, on top of a simple stoneware glaze.

Her pottery as far as I am aware is all stoneware, with simple timeless glazes.

When doing a bit of research for this entry I noticed that the Bornholms Musuem has an updated entry on Hjorth Pottery entitled “The Women at Hjorth’s Factory”.

In the section on potter Ulla Hjorth it says:

Ulla was educated at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen in 1969 and is very much into the functional. The factory’s tradition was combined with new impressions from the School of Arts and Crafts. Ulla Hjorth works with stoneware and mainly manufactures utility items in simple, classic shapes and glazes. Her work has been characterized as utility ceramics with qualities beyond the purely practical. “I emphasize that a teapot must be functional and that it is united with the shape” she said.

See previous articles on L Hjroth pottery in the navigation table to the right of the page.

Ulla Hjorth Denmark – Photo Ray Garrod

Ulla Hjorth Denmark – UH signature, along with LHjorth. Photo Ray Garrod

Ulla Hjorth – Photo via BonrholmsMusuem.dk

Dec 19

Gustavsberg Eldorado – Wilhelm Kage

This beautiful and elegant stoneware dinnerware is Gustavsberg “Eldorado”. It is a design by Wilhelm Kage (b1889-d1960) for Gustavsberg, designed in 1936 by Wilhelm and in production much later from 1956-1962 (post the retirement of Kage). During the 1920 and 1930’s Kage designed over 30 dinnerware designs at Gustavsberg, several of which went into production post his retirement.

The dinnerware set of Eldorado consisted of serving dishes, casseroles, ramekins, plates etc. – but I’m unsure if cups/teapots etc were produced – I havent been able to locate any images of such.

So far I have come across 3 main variations of this design – Brun (a brown ochre colour), Pastell ( a yellow colour ), and Grun (pale green) but there seem to be more out there – I also found a bowl with a hand-painted stripe pattern on a clear glaze. (see last photos below). The brown appears to have been the most popular going by the quantity available now on the secondary market.

Gustavsberg Eldorado Brun – Photo Ray Garrod

Gustavsberg Eldorado Brun

Gustavsberg Eldorado Green – Photo via Metropol Auctions

Gustavsberg Eldorado Photo via HappyMooseVintage Etsy

Gustavsberg Eldorado Photo via Metropol Auctions

Doing research into more about this smart dinnerware design, I came across an interesting article in the American Publication, Ceramics Monthly August 1954. It is a very interesting read, although this design is not mentioned – here is an excerpt….

Jul 24

Ilja Chapoff – More Works

I was so pleased to hear from readers Alan & Val who were able to provide some more snippets of information about, and some images of pieces they have by Ilja Chapoff.

Ilja was a WWII refugee to Australia, and worked as a potter painter and sculptor in until the 1980s mainly in New South Wales (see my previous post here)

Alan and Val met Ilja when they ran a small art gallery where they sold some of his work. The gallery was next to their printing business in Narwee 1974/1975.

During this period Ilja was living in the Narwee/Riverwood area. They recall him being a quiet and gentle man, who before he migrated to Australia had taught and practised as an artist in Europe (possibly Prague) for many years, but had to flee with nothing when he came to Australia.

They purchased some of his work at that time, and kindly sent me some photographs of it.

You will also see below another example of Ilja’s work sent to me by Sandra Read more