Scandinavian Design: DANICO, Danish Art Nouveau (Skønvirke), Oxblood Vase, 1920s

Description: Scandinavian Design: DANICO, Danish Art Nouveau (Skønvirke), Oxblood Vase, 1920s The Kähler ceramics dynasty was established in 1839 by Joachim Christian Herman Kähler (1808-1884), who emigrated from the Duchy of Holstein to establish his workshop in Næstved in the southern part of the island of Zealand in Denmark. The business remained in family hands through four generations until being sold to Næstved Municipality in 1974. By around 1910 or so, the stage was set for a transition from the first generation of artistic Kähler ceramics, in which Herman A. Kähler and Karl Hansen-Reistrup had played central roles, to a new generation. This next generation was led by Herman H.C. Kähler, who took over formal leadership of the workshop with his father’s death in 1917, but began earlier with the arrival of Svend Hammershøi (1873-1948), who was to become the most important figure from outside the family in the artistic legacy of Kähler Keramik.  Although over-shadowed artistically by his father and contemporaries such as Svend Hammershøi, Herman H.C. Kähler also made contributions to the company’s artistic legacy that warrant greater recognition. Herman H.C. Kähler’s role in the workshop grew as his father aged. In 1913, Kähler was transformed into a limited company, with Herman A. Kähler responsible for overall management, his son Herman H. C. Kähler in charge of artistic development, and Rasmus Grønholt directing sales. After Herman A. Kähler died in 1917, his son assumed overall management responsibility for the company. By the time that Herman H.C. Kähler took over the company, times and tastes had changed across Europe. Denmark was a late-comer to the Art Nouveau movement, but Herman H.C. Kähler was to become one of the most visible proponents of Danish Art Nouveau ceramics, referred to as Skønvirke. Today, Kähler is perhaps best known for the wheel-thrown, slip-decorated objects created under Herman H.C. Kähler’s artistic leadership beginning around 1908. These objects were decorated by “painting girls” using the old and difficult-to-master horn painting technique, which made use of a hollowed cow horn with attached goose quill. The horn was filled with the slip, which was applied through the goose quill, used as a pen. As many as ten horns were used to decorate a single a vase. The first items were decorated in dark brown, blue and green with patterns in the Jugendstyle (Skønvirke), with both colors and patterns becoming lighter over time. Herman H.C. Kähler's strength was his ability to inspire and encourage skilled decorators to go beyond the current decorative techniques. The female artists who decorated Kähler ceramics during this era labored largely in obscurity but played an important role in the workshop’s success during this period. They were given a free hand to let their imagination run free, and horn painting in particular was a great opportunity to develop a personal style. The popularity of Kähler’s horn-painted Skønvirke wares led to emulation elsewhere in Denmark. DANICO, which operated in Horsens during the period 1919-1929, produced similar wares in the Skønvirke style. DANICO, which was established by Niels Peter Nielsen, a potter, and a businessman named Corfitzen, took its name from a combination of DAnmark, NIelsen, and COrfitzen. The early artistic leader of DANICO was Eiler Løndal, but he only was associated with DANICO for its first three years. The introduction of a horn-painted line of Skønvirke to compete with Kähler’s popular output was made possible by the hiring of two potters— Karl Hansen and Frederik Jørgensen—who both came from the Kähler workshop. So similar in style was the output of DANICO to that of Kähler that they are difficult to distinguish without reference to the impressed marks on the bottom, with most of DANICO’s output clearly marked. A significant portion of the DANICO’s production was exported to the United States via agents. This ball-form vase is a classic example of the cow horn-painted Danish Art Nouveau (Skønvirke) style of pottery popularized by Kähler and emulated by DANICO during the 1920s. This small vase is most notable for its glossy oxblood glaze, which also features horn-painted blue, black and yellow slip decoration. The markings on the bottom of the piece are mostly obscured by glaze, but the style of the piece is characteristic of DANICO's production during the 1920s. The dimensions of this vase are approximately 4.25 inches high, 4.75 inches wide, and 3 inches at the mouth. The piece is in excellent condition, with no observed flaws. All shipping is by USPS insured Priority mail, and great care will be taken with packing this piece. A flat rate shipping charge of $20 applies to this listing. Flat shipping rate applies only to U.S. buyers. International buyers will pay higher actual shipping costs and should inquire prior to bidding. About the seller: I have been collecting art pottery for more than 30 years. 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.

Price: 50 USD

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado

End Time: 2023-12-04T17:08:46.000Z

Shipping Cost: 20 USD