‎‎‎‎‎This handmade 1960s table lamp was designed by the brilliant Danish artist, Einar Johansen, and produced by Søholm Stentøj (Søholm stoneware). The manufactory was one of the oldest and most revered names in Danish ceramics. It was founded in Rønne on the Baltic island of Bornholm in 1835, and produced ceramics until the factory closed in 1996.

Johansen originally trained as a painter at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, and that truly shows in his ceramic work as well. This table lamp has a beautiful ceramic body featuring a beautiful ceramic glaze in shades of white, brown, and blue, and a clear artistic touch. Two opposing sides feature a sculptural motif shaped like five fluted steps leading up to the neck. These showcase the colour variation and play of the glazed clay and provide plenty of visual interest. The flared neck has gently rounded edges, providing the perfect support for the shade. The classic bell shape of the shade is covered by a light fabric with trims that match the colour scheme of the glaze. The overall aesthetic is essentially Nordic modern thanks to the combination of interesting material choices and a design that is inspired by nature. This table lamp has a particularly lovely glaze, thick, deep, and full of colour nuances enhanced by the sculptural decorations.

In the middle of the 20th century, Søholm produced a wide range of stoneware in various patterns and shapes. During that time, Einar Johansen was employed at the manufactory, and designed and created a wide range of stoneware, where his "blue series" is the most highly sought after by collectors today.

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SOLD

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Condition:

In good vintage condition consistent with age and use. The lamp has a newly produced shade.

Dimensions:

13.77 in Ø x 25.19 in H

35 cm Ø x 64 cm H

About the designer/manufacturer:

Søholm was founded by Edvard Christian Sonne and Herman Sonne Wolffsen in 1835. Herman Sonne Wolffsen ran the pottery until his death in 1887. Much of the production was then unsigned. The pottery was operated by Hans Ancher Wolffsen and his brother in 1887-1908 They adopted the popular Jugendstil with its often grotesque shapes.

The raw material for the ceramics, clay, was found just outside the city limits and was of very high quality. The large clay pits provided material for many potters, faïence and terracotta factories as well as ceramists.

Danish designer, Einar Johansen, was employed at Søholm in the period between 1958-1968, and designed several, beautiful stoneware and pottery, including his famous blue glazed stoneware. Johansen, created many wonderful designs for Søholm Stentøj as well as in his own studio. He originally trained as a painter at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, but changed his mind and became a ceramicist.

The classic Bornholm ceramics have managed to make the island in the Baltic Sea known not just in Denmark, but throughout the world. At the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1935, one of the then several Bornholm ceramics factories wins a distinguished gold medal for its glaze.

In 1989, Søholm Keramik relocated to a new factory at Lillevangsvej 6 in the outskirts of Rønne. The factory was closed on the 1st of February in 1996.