Posted 11 years ago
Rogueroman
(96 items)
I have this very cool pottery lamp base that measures 10 1/2" tall by 5" in diameter at the base. It has what appears to be some sort of exotic birds and designs incised into the pottery and then glazed. It is impressed stamped on the bottom with A1 and what could be a smoke stack or kiln with smoke coming out of it.
I would greatly appreciated any help with identifying the maker and the age of this little beauty. Thank you in advance
I can help you with this one! That is the oven mark of Knabstrup.
A little piece of Danish ceramic history.
The company closed in 1989.
Knabstrup Keramik was based in Zealand, Denmark. In its earliest incantation (1856-1907 ) it was Knabstrup Lervarefabrik: a brick factory. "In 1897 it was bought by Henrik Schou and in 1907 its new ceramics factory formed the basis for a new era in Knabstrups history.
In 1930, production was mostly utility ware. Aksel Sigvald Nielsen (Aksini) worked there until 1954, producing vases and also pottery plaques. After Frida Schou retired as Director in 1970, the factory bought a new gas kiln, Bjorn Wiinblad took over production and changed the name in 1977 to Knabstrup Ceramic Factory A / S. Production consisted of dinnerware, wall plaques, and dishes. "
http://anseta.com/designers/danish/knabstrup-keramik.php
You can see two great sites where they have lots of information on their designers here:
http://knabstrup-specialisten.com/index.html
&
http://www.knabstrup-keramik.dk/Knabstrup-Keramik.htm
In my mind however is the fact that this company gave shelter to two displaced persons Zoltan Kiss & Lajos Mathe after WWII. Both had been students at the University of Budapest during the war and with the arrival of the Russians in 1944 they fled Hungary and were taken in by the Danes. Both were architects, painters and potters. They were taken in by Frida Schou at the pottery and she gave them work. After a fire in 1947 Frida had Zoltan Kiss design a new modern factory.
http://knabstrup-specialisten.com/fotoalbum.html
Another of their friends joined them: Endre Hevezi. I believe Lajos Mathe moved to Canada later and Endre Hevezi went to England. Zoltan Kiss settled in Cancouver, Canada.
This is a youtube presentation on Zoltan Kiss in Vancouver, Canada!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwpClwBVpVg
I have actually seen a piece similar to this one of yours years ago. I think it is a design of Zoltan Kiss but I am not 100% sure. I believe it is by one of the Hungarians. If I were you I would contact the specialists at
http://www.knabstrup-specialisten.com/kontaktoplysninger.html
By the way there are some other important names who designed for Knabstrup: Per Lutken, Inger Persson ........ and look out for Storm P.!
Did I say I love it?
It's a piece of post war ceramic history IMHO!
Wow!! Thank you so much. Lots of great information and wonderful photos on the websites. I can't thank you enough for your help with solving the mystery of my little lamp base. I'm going to have it converted back to a lamp - and use it on my desk.
I'm pleased to help out. Contact them in Denmark. They will know for sure the designer! I have a small vase by Zoltan Kiss. Going back over this today I believe I have a 1930's plate too. So thanks for the opportunity to have another look at the site.
Just an aside on your lamp: note the shape of it and the symbol of the factory!
According to marks$antiques, that particular mark was used in 1960-77
Love it to bits!...:-)
I just heard back from the Knabstrup specialist. You were correct vetraio50 that it was made by one of the Hungarian artists - This lamp base was made by Lajos Mathe and is dated between 1946-1948. Again, thank you so much for the information you provided. Can't wait to get it wired and use it as a lamp again. I have a friend who makes custom lamp shades so will see if I can find some Knapstrup lamp photos with original shades to give him an idea.
Great one Rogueroman! I was sure it was one of them. I think the mark confuses the issue a bit but is explained by its position. Good luck with the project and would love to see it wired up. There is something haunting about these pieces at Knabstrup. You can see the emotion, perhaps it is memory, perhaps it is the new environment.
http://knabstrup-specialisten.com/lajosmathe.html
He died in Canada in 2002.