Figgjo Fajanse AS Plaque

This just arrived from Tokyo via eBay - always a relief when something arrives in one piece after a long journey!  I love sign pieces that have the company name as the main decoration instead of just being the mark on the back.

Digsmed Lazy Susan Tray

I gave this Digsmed lazy susan tray to my partner for Christmas.  There are eight small glass dishes, each marked "Made in Denmark," that rest on a tray that spins while the top platform stays stationary.  

The candlesticks are German, by Goberg.

Iittala Alvar Aalto Vase

Some much-needed spring.  Iittala vase designed by Alvar Aalto in 1937, which I still find amazing because it is remains so modern!

Stelton Erik Magnussen Carafe

My mom has had one of these thermal carafe's for years, and this year she gave one to us for Christmas!  It's produced by Stelton of Denmark, and the designer is Erik Magnussen.  It has such a simple design, but with great little details, like the curve of the handle.  And the stopper on the top is perfect - no turning to figure out if it's open or not.  It has a counterweight, so that as soon as you pour, it opens.

Mons og Mille

There's a perfectly sized bit of wall in the kitchen where our Figgjo Flint Mons go Mille plaques go.  Designed by Turi Gramstad Oliver.

Figgjo Flint Lotte

We found these two plaques a few weekends ago at a local antique store.  They are designed by Turi Gramstad Oliver for Figgjo Flint, and the pattern is Lotte.

More Christmas before it's boxed away

The Christmas tree came down this weekend and is now at the curb.  Here are a few more pictures of Christmas to tide us over until next year.

The tomte is by Rolf Berg from Sweden.  The blue and white ball is a Royal Copenhagen ornament.

Elle Pottery Vase

My partner gave me this Elle vase for Christmas.  The designer and artist were Harald Lahn.

Arne Ingdam Bear

This big Arne Ingdam bear arrived in the mail today to join its smaller friend.

Arne Ingdam was born in 1922 and trained at Royal Copenhagen under Knud Kyhn, but produced work from his own workshop in Rågeleje, Nordsjælland and sold most of his work through the Magasin du Nord department stores.

Norway and Finland

Some more Christmas:  Hadeland glass nissen and tree, glass ornaments with the Taika pattern by Iittala, and an embroidered linen from Norway with dompapen on it.  (I love those little bullfinches, and apparently they can be kept as pets... but I don't think the cats would appreciate just looking at them.)

More bits of Christmas

More pictures of Christmas before it's all taken down for the season.  We found several little wooden guys this year that were fun.  The two wooden guys are from Silas Tonttukylä in Finland.  The Christmas balls are from Crate and Barrell and are Sanna Annukka's Taikamylly pattern, which is the same as the tablecloth in the last picture.  The ceramic tomte is made by Nittsjö, and might be designed by Rolf Berg (he has done other designs for Nittsjö that are very similar to this).

Happy New Year!

My partner and I spent a quiet New Year's Eve at home with duck a l'orange and farro, and dessert in front of the fireplace from a pastry shop nearby.  We're sort of home-bodies, but one of my New Year's resolutions is: more dinner parties!  ...at least one a month seems reasonable - and then we'll get to use our dinnerware more often. :)

About the pictures:  It was sort of a Danish/Finnish night.  We used our Nissen Rune dishes and Dansk Fjord silverware, both designed by Jens Quistgaard.  The glassware is Iittala - Ultima Thule for the water, Aarne champagne flutes, and Essence cordial glasses for a dessert wine (I found out recently that we can no longer get the cordial size in the Essence pattern, although they are still on the Iittala website (where they are called "Sweet Wine")).  Dessert is on a Dansk teak tray (also Quistgaard).

The little red espresso cups were a Christmas present from my parents by Heath Ceramics.  I love how Heath fits in so nicely with Scandinavian design.

Fall into Winter

The end of the year certainly has a lot going on!  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's, the mundane parts of life seem to have taken over.  I'm also starting to wonder if my focus here on ceramics is too limiting, and if that's why my updates here have been so sparse of late.  As I look around my house, I realize there are Scandinavian influences everywhere - so, I think in the new year I'm going to start sharing a little bit more than just ceramics (well, I'm going to make it official...I've already had a few non-pottery posts).  

About these pictures:  We used a few different Dansk candleholders for the first time - the brass candlesticks in early December, and the taper crown for Christmas dinner.  

We also completed our collection of Lisa Larson Advent candleholders.  The marks on the bases are not all the same:  the boys have the original Gustavsberg marks, but the girls are marked Rörstrand.  

Christmas Eve dinner was at my parents' house on their lovely Porsgrund Hearts and Pines.