Niels Peter Nielsen (1888-1968, Potter):
Pottery in Egebjerg by Horsens (1909-1918).Ì
The ceramic factory D A N I C O, Horsens (1919-1929)
Dagnaes Pottery, Dagnases by Horsens (1930-1946) and in Torsted by
Horsens (from 1947).
After he finished his education as a potter at Annashaab, Niels Peter
Nielsen in 1909 established his own pottery in Egebjerg outside Horsens.
At the pottery he produced, pots, bowls, Pickle Pots, Plates, vases and
sculptures.
The things from Egebjerg are marked with a presses "N.P.NIELSEN, EGEBIER=
G" or an "NP"(written together).
Later Nielsen got acquainting to the storekeeper Corfitzen from Horsens
and they decided to start a ceramic factory, with Nielsen as president and
Corfitzen as financier.
The factory was named D A N I C O (DAnish, NIelsen
and Corfitsen) and started production in 1919.
They produced things for decoration, bowls, vases, centrepieces and
flowerpots.
The two potters Karl Hansen and Frederik Jörgensen, who both came from
Herman A. Kähler, were employed and they stamped the design, decoration
and production.
They decorated with hornpainting and flower ornamentation in Skonvirke s
tyle,whish is the Danish version of the French art noveau (1890-1910) which ca
me to Denmark a bit later.
Among the employees was also potter Leon Dissing (1897-1986) who later ha
d his own pottery in Horsens.
Is the decoration in blue and green on a white/yellow background, it can
be difficult to see the difference between things from Kähler and Danico.
Only the pressmark "HAK" shows if it's "a Kähler". The Kähler things were
always marked.
One can understand that they found that likeness rather tiresome at
Kählers.
The two potters from Kähler are no doubt very skilled, the hornpainting was
a difficult technique. A hollowed cowhorn, with a goose quill, was filled
up with the slip. The potter then painted with the cowhorn by dosing the slip
through the goose quill, using it as a pen.
The artistic leader was Eiler Londal (1887-1971). May be he didn't get
the possibilities and the free rein that his talent needed and required,
because already in 1922 he quit. It is said that he destroyed all his forms before leaving, so he must have been rather displeased.
A good part of the production were exported via agents also in USA.
The things from Danico are often, but not always stamped with a pressed
D A
N I C O. They are always marked with a number. The guideline is that the
numbers from 1 to 499 and from 800 and up are from DANICO while the numbe
rs
from 500 to 799 are from Annashaab. Sometimes the things are only marked
with a number.
As Einer Londal later also marked the things he produced in Aarhus also
only
with a number it can be rather difficult to know the difference.This
splitting of numbers has been concluded from catalogues and from notes ta
ken
by collectors of both Danico and Annashaab.
One can only guess abt. the reason to this splitting of numbers between t
he
2 factories, but it would be obvious to conclude that it had something to
do
with Londals shift from Danico to Annashaab.
Danico closes in 1929. The competition is too keen especially from Annash
aab
which had a prosperity after the short employment of Londal.
Peter Nielsen is not that easy to subdue. He again start his own pottery,
this time in Dagnos outside Horsens. Dagnos pottery produces ceramics
in a
new style. Unique specimens, where the burgundy-red glaze became one of h
is
characteristics.
The factory moved from Dagnos to Torsted in 1946-47.
N.P. Nielsen died in 1968 and his son Carl Johan Nielsen, took over Dagnos
Pottery.
The things from Dagnos are marked with a pressed DAGNOS or a handwrit
ten DK.
THE ANNASHAAB POTTERY, EGEBJERG BY HORSENS (1891-1958).
The factory was founded by potter Jens Holm Rasmussen (1855-?) who was
educated at Sorring Pottery.
At the beginning they produced kitchenthings and chamberpots for the Stat
e
Prison in Horsens.
Peter Madsen (1876-1955), who was the stepson of Jens Holm Rasmussen, was
educated by Rasmussen and took part of the management.
In 1922 Eiler Londal was employed and he started the production of bowl
s,
vases, centrepieces, flowerpots decorated with hornpainted
flower ornamentations like Danico and Kähler and now there are 3 factor
ies
with more or less the same design.
The things from Annashaab are pressstamped with a triangle with the letter L
inside. Also with a handwritten number (between 500 and 799). Sometimes o
nly with the number.
After one year Eiler Londal quit and with him some of the spirit a
nd the artistic dynamic disappears.
The factory batten on his models till 1930th, after which a hard time starts
with the depression and the war, and in 1958 they close.
EILER CHRISTENSEN LONDAL (1887-1971)
Eiler Londal was born in Silkeborg and educated painter, with great interest
of pottery.
He was employed as artistic leader at Danico, and the credit of much of t
he success at Danico must be his. In 1922 he is leaving Danico and employed
by Annashaab where he were in one year.
The fact that he is only working in a short period at both factories might
be because he didn't fully have the possibilities and the freedom of acti
on that his talent and artistic ability required.
After Annashaab he spend time travelling in Europe and to Constantinople,
Jerusalem and Cairo, where he seek inspiration before he settles down in
Aarhus and establish a pottery in Gerlachsgade and a studio in Jyllandsall.
The design and style is on the whole the same as he did at Danico and
Annashaab, and you have to watch closely to see the difference and it does
not make things easier that Londal choose to mark the things only with
a number. In a few things you see the press mark "Londal".
