Graverens Fruit Bowl

Graverens started out as a brick-making factory in Sandnes in 1852 and started making art pottery in 1926.  They closed in 1982. (This is all based on a google translation of an article in Norwegian, so let me know if I'm way off!)

Carl Olaf Olsen

We found this dish at an antique store today.  I googled the name and found that he is still working and has a shop in Sandnes.  Can't wait to visit when I'm back in Norway!  

I love the simple form and rich glazes.  The circle motif on the outside caused little dimples on the inside, creating a nice pattern in the glaze.

Carl Olaf Olsen, Keramisk verksted, Stavanger, Norway
Carl Olaf Olsen, ceramic workshop, Stavanger, Norway

Moods of Norway

New Elle Vase

We got a new little Elle vase today, designed by Birgitte Skyttern.  ...and enjoyed an aquavit and tonic after work.  I can't wait for some really hot weather - they'll taste even better then!

Elle Fisherman Plate

We found this funky-shaped plate on eBay.  The artist is Harald Lahn ("HL").

Stavangerflint København Plate

Unpacking some things that were packed away for Christmas.  This little Copenhagen souvenir plate by Inger Waage plate has to be Stavangerflint, but it doesn't have the logo on the back.

Stavangerflint Viking Plate

This is what we woke up to this morning: -14˚F/-26˚C.  It's bracing.

 

Elle Egg-shaped Dish

Another piece of Elle pottery from my cousin Nancy.  Thanks to some information from a commentor, I'm guessing this was designed by Arvid Furheim.

Stavangerflint Per Spelmann

I posted one of the trivets before, but here is the rest of the collection.  Designed by Gro Pedersen Claussen.

Jens Quistgaard Relief Candleholder

The history of Kronjyden, Nissen, Bing and Grøndahl seems confusing.  I think Kronjyden was bought by Nissen, which in turn was bought by B&G.  At any rate, this little candleholder is in the "Relief" pattern and was designed by Jens Quistgaard.

The little vase is actually one of the glasses that my partner and I blew at the Hadeland factory near Oslo.

And the cat is Monty.

Terra of Norway Plate with Boy

This is the companion piece to yesterday's post.

Terra of Norway Plate with Girl

Until my partner stumbled on Terra pottery from Norway on eBay I'd never heard of them... They have many similarities to the Elle pottery company.

Figgjo Flint Norge Trivet

Christmas Decorations

One of our kitchen shelves with a Nittsjö bird, Rolf Berg tomte, and a Rörstrand covered pot.  Tomorrow the tree is coming down, really.  We got these two flag ornaments this year - the Norwegian flag for my heritage, and the Italian flag for my partner.

A little more God Jul

My small collection of  Bing and Grøndahl God Jul plates (with one Royal Copenhagen plate and a B&G Mors Dag plate, too): my grandpa's birth year plate from 1910, my grandma's from 1919 (Royal Copenhagen), my aunt Mary's plate from 1944, my plate from 1970, the plate from my mom's first Mors Dag in 1971, and my partner's plate from 1963.

The Christmas decorations are coming down this weekend.  Our cat Monty is lounging below the window lights and straw ornaments.

Elle Norsk Bottle Vase

My cousin Nancy gave me this Elle vase for Christmas.  I have another vase in this same shape and both have the numbers 927 BS, so I assume that is the shape number.  The artist's initial here is "S."

The Elle Keramikk AS studio/factory was located in Drøbak, Norway between 1942 and 1967.  I know three of the decorators were Reidar Finsrud, Gun von Wittrock (married name Gunvor Norem), and Einar Basteson, but I haven't been able to match the signatures on any of my pieces of Elle to these names.

Lisa Larson Tomte

My mom's Lisa Larson tomte (or would it be nisse?).  The picture of the base is delightfully blurry...but it says Lisa L, K-Studion, Gustavsberg, Sweden.

Stavangerflint Plates

By Inger Waage and Anne Lofthus.

Clupea at the Figgjo Flint Museum

For some reason we left our cameras in the car when we went to into the Figgjo Flint store and museum last spring, but we did take this photo of the Clupea display with our cell phone.  ...guess we'll just have to go back!