Royal Copenhagen MCM Design: Nils Thorsson, Denmark, Unique Bowl, Fish Motif. It was really only with the arrival in 1911 at Royal Copenhagen of the Swede Patrick Nordstr. Patrick Nordström was born in. Väsby, outside Höganäs, a major Swedish pottery center. He was the son of a master carpenter and trained as a woodcarver and sculptor. After completing his studies in Stockholm, he spent five years traveling in Europe, starting in Berlin and going on to Venice and Paris. Before leaving Paris, he. Worked as a stucco and ornament sculptor in the construction of buildings for the 1900 Paris Exhibition Universelle, where he is reported to have been impressed by the work of a new generation of French stoneware artists, including Carries, Chaplet, Delaherche and Dalpayrat. Inspired and determined to bring the art of stoneware manufacture to Denmark. Nordström took up residence in Copenhagen, where he initially resumed his profession as an ornament sculptor. In his spare time he began to experiment with ceramic works, a field in which he was entirely self-taught, in a self-built kiln in the basement of his home in Fredriksberg. In 1911, he produced his first pieces in stoneware in a kiln in the garden of his villa in Vanl. Se, where he also fired works for other artists, including Knud Kyhn and J. Nordström drew his inspiration from the Chinese and Japanese influences on French stoneware artists. Nordström’s production soon attracted the interest of Arnold Krog at Royal Copenhagen, and he began work there in 1912, initially to develop stoneware glazes. He was to remain at Royal Copenhagen for ten years, eventually assuming overall responsibility for its stoneware production. Nordström left Royal Copenhagen in 1922 to establish his own workhop in Islev, but only after leaving a legacy of technical innovation in glazes, his own body of studio stoneware inspired by Japanese and Chinese art, and a group of trained collaborators to carry on Royal Copenhagen’s stoneware tradition. His matte crystaline glazes, inspired by those developed in the far east, were continued and perfected by fellow Royal Copenhagen artists Carl Halier, Axel Salto and Nils Thorsson. One of the most important descendants in the line of Royal Copenhagen stoneware artists established by Patrick. His legacy in noteworthy for both his longevity as well as the diversity of his design output. His work is often presented as an exemplar of mid-century Danish modernism and is praised in the field of ceramic design. Thorsson was born in Eslöv, Sweden in 1898. At the age of thirteen he apprenticed at the Alumina Factory in. Copenhagen, before studying at and graduating from the Royal Danish Academy in 1917. Just over a decade later, he was appointed Artistic Director of Alumina in. 1928, a post which he held for forty-one years. Thorsson’s work as a designer varied greatly thematically, from the naturalistic. Featuring birds, fish, and butterfly motifs, to the abstract and geometric. During his time at Royal Copenhagen, Thorsson was the factory’s most prolific designer, designing at least five of the best known production ranges for the company including. (Alumina, 1950s), which was an elegant, yet affordable line for everyday use. (1960s), which features highly detailed and complex relief patterns; and. (1970s), as well as many other pieces in glazes that are lesser known and harder to find on the vintage market. Thorsson passed away in 1975 in Copenhagen. Today, his mid-century earthenware designs are coveted by collectors and vintage lovers alike. This bowl is a rare find and would make a beautiful statement in the center of any table. This bowl is not serial production but is clearly related in its decoration to the Diana line produced by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen in the 1960s/1970s. What is most noteworthy about this bowl is the vividly colored treatment of one of Nils Thorsson’s favorite motifs. The three sets of fishes that decorate the outside of this bowl are bright orange in coloration, resembling koi fish. The inside of the bowl is a pristine white, while the outside carries a light grey speckled glaze that serves as the canvas for the brilliant orange fish with blue highlights. This piece, the body of which seems to be. Porcelain, is very well marked with Royal Copenhagen’s hand-painted three blue waves, the artist’s monogram hand-painted signature in blue, and a hand-painted blue number (2183) which likely refers to the shape. Faintly visible is also an incised number 42B? , the meaning of which is unclear. The dimensions of this bowl are a bit more than 3 inches high and 7 inches wide across the mouth. None of the markings provide a precise dating for this piece, but I would guess it to be 1960s vintage. This first quality piece is in excellent original condition, with no observed flaws. Please see the photos for further details on condition as well as the exceptional decoration. The bulk of my collection is Danish stoneware from the 1920s into the 1970s. The bulk of my Danish collection consists of Arne Bang, Saxbo, Jais Nielsen, Nils Thorsson, Erik Hjorth, and Ejvind Nielsen. I have done extensive research on these and other artists and workshops and would be happy to share that with interested buyers. I also have substantial collections of American, French, Belgian and other 20th century northern European art pottery. Over the coming months I will be listing a wide range of pieces from my collection. Please check out my other listings and add me to your list of saved sellers to receive notification of new listings. This item is in the category “Pottery & Glass\Decorative Pottery & Glassware\Vases”. The seller is “potsandplates” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.
- MPN: 2183
- Handmade: Yes
- Item Width: 7 inches
- Pattern: Diana
- Time Period Manufactured: 1960-1969
- Production Technique: Pottery
- Item Height: 3+ inches
- Subject: Design
- Vintage: Yes
- Era: Mid 20th Century (1941-1969)
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Denmark
- Origin: Denmark
- Material: Porcelain
- Model: Bowl
- Product Line: Diana Line
- Finish: Semi-gloss
- Production Style: Art Pottery
- Signed By: Nils Thorsson
- Brand: Royal Copenhagen
- Style: Mid-Century Modern
- Antique: No
- Color: Multi-Color
- Signed: Yes
- Original/Licensed Reproduction: Original
- Backstamp: Painted
- Theme: Fishes, Fish
- Type: Bowl
- Original/Reproduction: Vintage Original