The Glass Box: Modernist Ceramics

Nils Thorsson, c. 1960's Alumina-Royal Copenhagen's Artistic Director & Designer

I love the MCM fajance ceramics created under Nils Thorsson's leadership at Alumina-Royal Copenhagen, Denmark!

Even though this pottery was mass produced (in low volume), it still feels like one-off studio works. I buy Royal Copenhagen ceramics when I can for my home, and to sell them in my Etsy shop.

Born in Sweden, Nils Johan Thorvald Thorsson (1898-1975) began to apprentice at the Alumina Factory in Copenhagen, Denmark at the tender age of thirteen. In 1917 Thorsson gradated from the Royal Danish Academy. He excelled as a designer and went onto become Alumina Factory's Artistic Director in 1928, a post which he held for forty one years! Thorsson was the factory's most prolific designer with a keen eye for talent. When Alumina purchased Royal Copenhagen in 1949, Thorsson took over there as well as Artistic Director, leading a team of ultra-talented designers.

Nils Thorsson, c. 1960's Baca Series Tile

Nils Thorsson designed several production ranges for Alumina-Royal Copenhagen. Four lines in particular became tremendously popular: Solberg (1930's), Marselis (Alumina-1950's), Tenera (1960's), and Baca (1964- 70's). Tenera was a special line because of it's design diversity. Many of the motifs have the color blue in common, but the use of color, and texture, has some exquisite variations with each designer's work. Tenera's design team consisted of: Berte Jessen, Inge Lise-Koefoed, Marianne Johnson, Kari Christensen, Bethe Breyen, Grete Helland-Hansen & Johanne Gerber.

Marianne Johnson, c. 1960's Tenera Series decorative dish

Bethe Breyen, c. 1960's Tenera Series decorative dish

Berte Jessen, c. 1960's Tenera Series large rectangular vase

Bethe Breyen, c. 1960's Tenera Series decorative bowl

One of my favorite designers of this era was Johanne Gerber. She had such design diversity. On one hand she would create a floral, earthy batik style, on the other use bold, graphic imagery- my favorite- which has become very popular with modern design collectors.

Johanne Gerber, c. 1960's "Blue Forest"- Tenera Series decorative dish

Johanne Gerber, c. 1960's Tenera Series decorative covered dish

Johanne Gerber, c. 1960's Tenera Series decorative tile

Johanne Gerber, c. 1960's Tenera Series decorative dish iconic apple design!

With Baca, Thorsson's own design motifs ranged from naturalistic to abstrasct and even geometric. This line had a lot of complexity in design and relief within the glazing. Tenera & Baca were Alumina-Royal Copenhagen's most popular lines. Thorsson also worked with several other designers at Royal Copenhagen, including Ellen Malmer & Ivan Weiss, whose work explored nature motifs.

Most of the works are marked "fajance" which is a term for hand painted ceramic. The Alumina Factory dropped its name in 1969 and became Royal Copenhagen.

Nils Thorsson, c. 1964 Baca Series decorative dish Nils Thorsson, c. 1964 Baca tall vase

Today, the look of Royal Copenhagen's Mid Century fajance designs are coveted and copied. They, like many design creations to come from Scandinavia, have become Mid Century iconic. I find these pieces a great way to get beautiful design accents for what is still a very reasonable cost.

Ivan Weiss, c. 1970's Royal Copenhagen decorative dish

Ellen Malmer, c. 1970's Royal Copenhagen large decorative dish

If you would love to own a piece of Royal Copenhagen fajance ceramic, I have several for sale in my Etsy shop. Please click on the link to see:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/etnaStreetModern

My atrium is in desperate need of love! While it's currently a storage area for our kitchen remodel as well as a place of semi-decay from dry rot and a bad patio cover, I did manage to get part of this area cleaned up & painted- including the half the siding, glass screen posts, and some of the tongue and groove ceiling. Whew! But, now it all feels a bit bare. Since much of my funds are tied up in appliances, flooring and cabinetry, I thought it would be cool to make my own objet d'art for one of the atrium walls.

I am hoping to build the metal armiture myself in Oakland (fingers crossed), but wanted to add some subtle areas of color in the piece. One day I started playing with a few tiles left over from our kitchen backsplash and hatched a plan to use tiles as my accents for this work of art. After a couple of visits to heaven on earth, aka Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, CA, I not only had a color direction, but 4 boxes of sumptuous tiles for a song.

HEATH sign on their modernist 1959 headquarters and store Sausalito, CA

Two words: Overstock Room... Two more: mosaic boxes! Heath changes their overstock frequently. I've been to the Heath overstock room three times in the last 2 months and it's always a bit different. On my last visit (July 14, 2013), the mosaic boxes were available in all their $2 psf glory! Woo-hoo! If you want a variety, and have a lot of flexibility and creativity, this could be an extemely affordable option. If you are lucky, you may also get a few tiles from Heath's new, or even their experimental, glazes.

The Heath Ceramics Store is wonderful as well. If mid century inspired ceramics is your candy, then this is the place for you! They also sell well curated, gorgeous objects like Holmegaard glass. Helpful, friendly workers make it all a dream shopping experience. The atmosphere is Marin mellow with the swaying eucalyptus trees and cool sunny skies (oh so close to SF's foggy bridge). Feels like home to me. I'm hooked!