Kongstrand vase (Denmark), 1910's

This small vase is from one of the smaller potteries in Denmark, started by the very entrepreneurial Soren Kongstrand. He was trained as a copper smith, but bought a hardware store in 1907 (in Esbjerg, W Denmark). Dissatisfied with the pottery available, he decided to become a potter himself and after having toiled with glazes and kilns for four years (and spending almost all his money!), he opened his pottery in 1911, helped by his nephew Jens Pedersen who later became a potter in his own right. They became very successful and thanks to Kongstrand's many connections, they held quite a few exhibitions and got a lot attention in the local press! Kongstrand developed several glazes, one of which is the black and white one seen here - it is called 'snekrystal' ('snowflake') - along with a lustre glaze called 'silk' (also used here) - apparently all the potteries just had to have a lustre glaze at the time! The shapes of the vases are usually very simple (no handles or adornments of any kind); however, figurines of ice bears etc. were also produced.

The height of the vase is 9.5 cm and the mark (almost illegible) is 'SK'.