Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville
This delicious and rare work of Swedish mid-century Modern design is by Hjördis Oldfors (b. 1920 - d. 2014) for Upsala Ekeby. Oldfors was a celebrated Swedish ceramicist, painting, and textile artist, known for the many series she designed at Upsala Ekeby which went on to become classics. Designed and in production between 1954 to 1955, this hand crafted work of art pottery comes from Oldfors' Bockarna Bruse [Billy Goats Gruff] series, for which there are 7 works consisting of 6 figures and 1 dish. The series is characterised by the stylised monochromatic goat figures and for this piece in particular, the Ink Blue glazed, chamotte earthenware dish.
Chamotte is also known as 'firesand', a raw ceramic material which has a high percentage of silica and alumina. Firesand is often produced by firing selected fire clays to high temperatures before grinding and screening to specific particle sizes.
The form of this piece and the series is undeniably Modernist in design, with a nod to the Norwegian fairy tale charm, stories of which were collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. The combination of this piece's form, design and condition makes this a particularly rare find.
CONDITION
Excellent, there are no chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild surface wear that is commensurate with the age of the piece. The underside of the base is indistinctly stamped with Upsala Ekebys 'UE' and Oldfors 'HJ' monogram and the remnants of the original label.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 3.1" / 8 cm tall (from base to tallest point). Rim measurements: c. 7.4" / 18.7 cm x c. 7.4" / 18.8 cm. Depth: c. 0.8" / 2 cm. Base diameter measurements: c. 5.1" / 13 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.1 kg / 1,125 g
NOTES
Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Hjördis Hanna Maria Oldfors (b. 1920 - d. 2014) was a celebrated Swedish ceramicist, painting, and textile artist. Oldfors is known for many series she designed at Upsala Ekeby which went on to become classics; including Poäng (Points), Kokos (Coconut), Trio (Trio), Palma (Palma), and Granit (Granite). Oldfors is represented at a number of museums including; National Museum (Sweden), Röhsska Museum, and at the Nordenfjeldske Konstindustrimuseum.
Though Oldfors was a late arrival to her ceramics career, beginning her studies in 1947 in Gothenburg, she became incredibly successful. Her career at Upsala Ekeby began in 1950 when she was 30 and she would go on to set up her own studio 'Bränd Form' with a number of exhibitions representing Upsala Ekeby and her own studio. The curators of the day are notably known to have said "She has an astonishing certainty in the abstract decor and its adaptation to the form. In this area, she does not have many competitors in our ceramics."