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Michael Andersen & Søn Bornholm Studio Ceramic Vase Denmark 60s Sculptural
€199Bid from €179
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Michael Andersen & Søn Bornholm Ceramic Vase, Denmark, ca. 1960s – Sculptural Nordic Studio Pottery in Volcanic Blue Glaze
A beautifully sculptural Danish ceramic vase produced by Michael Andersen & Søn on the island of Bornholm, Denmark, circa 1960s.
Executed in richly textured stoneware with a striking contrast between raw earthy clay and flowing volcanic blue glaze, the piece embodies the organic modernism that defined Scandinavian ceramics during the postwar decades. Both architectural and tactile, the vase balances rustic materiality with refined proportions in a manner quintessentially associated with Bornholm pottery traditions.
Design & Form
The vase is composed of two intersecting geometric volumes: a broad rounded lower section supporting a narrower tapered cylindrical neck. This subtle shift in proportion gives the object an almost architectural presence, somewhere between vessel, tower, and sculptural form.
Its silhouette recalls the language of Scandinavian modernism at its most restrained — functional yet deeply sensitive to texture, weight, and the expressive qualities of clay itself.
The lower register is covered in a flowing crystalline blue glaze with dramatic tonal variations ranging from pale ice blue to deep cobalt and near-black volcanic speckling. The glaze breaks organically at the edges, allowing the warm reddish-brown clay body to emerge beneath.
The upper section remains largely unglazed, emphasizing the coarse granular texture of the stoneware and creating a compelling dialogue between matte and glossy surfaces, raw earth and liquid glaze.
Craftsmanship & Materiality
Produced on Bornholm, the Danish island internationally associated with studio pottery and ceramic craftsmanship, the vase reflects the high technical standards of Michael Andersen & Søn, one of Denmark’s most important ceramic manufactories of the 20th century.
The tactile clay body, lava-like glaze transitions, and subtle asymmetries reveal the influence of both studio ceramics and Japanese-inspired Scandinavian aesthetics that became increasingly influential during the 1950s–1970s.
The base bears the Michael Andersen & Søn hallmark together with “Danmark” and model number 6139.
Manufacturer Background
Michael Andersen founded the ceramic workshop on Bornholm in 1890, and the company became one of the island’s defining ceramic producers throughout the 20th century. Michael Andersen & Søn gained recognition for combining traditional Danish craftsmanship with modernist experimentation in glaze chemistry, sculptural forms, and decorative techniques.
During the mid-century period, Bornholm ceramics developed an international reputation parallel to Swedish and Finnish studio pottery traditions, prized for their earthy materiality and subtle modernist sensibility.
This piece belongs to that lineage: honest, tactile, atmospheric, and unmistakably Nordic.
Details
Manufacturer: Michael Andersen & Søn, Bornholm
Country: Denmark
Period: ca. 1960s
Material: Ceramic / stoneware
Colors: Blue, brown
Finish: Combination of matte raw clay and glossy volcanic glaze
Model number: 6139
Dimensions
Height: approx. 18 cm
Diameter: approx. 13 cm
Opening diameter: approx. 7 cm
Condition
Very good vintage condition with minor traces of age and use consistent with period. No major damages, cracks, or repairs observed.
Collector’s Perspective
This vase is highly appealing for collectors of:
– Scandinavian modern ceramics
– Bornholm pottery
– Danish mid-century design
– Brutalist and organic modern interiors
– Studio pottery and volcanic glaze ceramics
Its sculptural silhouette and dramatic glaze transitions make it particularly effective as a standalone decorative object, even without flowers — functioning almost as a small ceramic sculpture.
The combination of raw clay and flowing blue glaze gives the piece a distinctly elemental quality: as if shaped equally by the potter’s hand and by geological process itself.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Please explore our profile for more vintage vases!
International buyers: import duties or taxes, if applicable, are the buyer’s responsibility.
All items are photographed and described with care. Vintage pieces may show minimal traces of age; any significant flaws will be clearly mentioned.
Private sale under law: no returns, refunds, or warranties.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsBlue, BrownMaterialCeramicNumber of items1Height18 cmWidth13 cmDepth13 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales