Danish ceramics 19th and 20th centuries P. Ipsens
Enke
(by Tove Jespersen, "Klitgaarden Antik & Ting" Nymindegab, Denmark)
Thorvald Bindesbøll (1901)
P. Ipsens Enke, Copenhagen (1843-1955)
The factory was established in 1843 by potter Rasmus Peter
Ipsen (1815-60) from Bornholm.
When he was 13 years old, Peter Ipsen was sent into service at
a brickyard, where he, in his own words, was carrying 4000 bricks each and
every day, which marked him for the rest of his life. Later he was apprenticed
with a joiner where he worked from 5am to 10pm which were so bad for his
constitution that he had to quit.
A schoolfriend found a job for him as a trainee at The Royal
Copenhagen. He soon became a masterly thrower with a great sense for the
design and colours, and in 1843 (28 years old) he had his own pottery and
married Lovise Christine Ipsen (1822-1905).
Hanging flowerpots in terracotta was the livelihood of the
factory, but also pots, amphorae vases painted in oil colours and
figurines, often inspired by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen
(1770-1844).
Peter established contact with that times Danish artists -
among these many sculptors, and he succeeded so much that he
in 1847 could afford to build a new factory in Utterslev outside
Copenhagen.
Peter Ipsen died in an early life, only 45 years old
(1860),
his widow Lovise Ipsen continues his work, which was
rather unusual in these days, but she had a good knowledge of the factory,
as she had always been a regular visitor there.
The oldest son Bertel Ipsen (1846-1917) who was also
a potter, took over management in 1865.
Bertel Ipsen continues in his fathers footsteps, with the
"Thorvaldsen style", and he was represented at most world exhibitions. He opened
shops in Paris and London.
In 1872 Ipsens Enke (enke means widow) make their first
glaze.
In the early days, it can be difficult to distinguish
terracotta from Ipsen from the terracotta from L. Hjorth, if the things are
unsigned. Often they used the same motives and models, and even that the 2
factories were competitors, they often cooperated and Hjorth now and then helped
Ipsen with the production. Some of Hjorts potters also, from time to time,
worked at Ipsen's.
The style changed in the 1890th, and they moved towards
production of blak fired terracotta.
But with Thorvald Bindesboell (1846-1908 architect
and sculptor), Georg Jensen (1866-1935 sculptor and silversmith) and
Christian Joachim (1870-1943 painter and potter), the Jugendstyle had
it's entry.
Thorvald Bindesboell, who was one of
the pioneers within Danish ceramics, was a very eccentric artist and some of a
prove. His nickname was "Boelle"(danish for "Rough"). Either
you loved him or you hated him. But Bertel Ipsen regarded him
as exciting and had a good cooperation with him.
Georg Jensen made a few things for Ipsen, before he
in 1904 established his world famous silversmithy.
Christian Joachim was known for his vases with
fungusmotives. Even that he lost his right arm as a child, he educated as a
painter and was a skilled artist. He later became artistic leader of the
Aluminia Faience factory, art director on The Royal Copenhagen.
In 1920-40 new glazes were developed:
"Chameleon glaze" (shining in various colours added gold,
platinum or silver). "Jade glaze" (dull green), "Danit glaze" (Red-lilac or
blue-green in a big crackled network), "Metal glaze" (mainly in green colours),
"Bronze glaze", "Ivory glaze", "Oxblood glaze", etc.
Georg Thylstrup (1884-1930 sculptor, silversmith and
potter)
produced a number of fishwife's, mermaids and fabulous
monsters.
Kai Nielsen (1882-1924 painter and sculptor) is most
known from his figurine "Venus Kalipygos". The name is taken from the Greek god
of love Aphrodite's nickname "Kalipygos" (her with the beautiful fanny). This
figurines were in great demand.
Ib Just Andersen (1884-1943 sculptor and silversmith)
produced in 1940 a few fish and mermaids, whish reminds about the figures and
vases etc. he later produced in diskometal from his world famous
silversmithy.
Besides from those already mentioned, a number of
international known artists have been connected to factory - among
those:
Lauritz Jensen (1859-1935 sculptor)
Jens Ferdinand Willumsen (1863-1958
painter)
Ellen Locher (1883-1956, sculptor)
Axel Salto (1889-1961, lithographic artist, painter
and potter)
Axel Soerensen (1891-1967 potter)
Axel Jensen (sculptor)
Bode Willumsen (1895-1987 sculptor and
potter)
Arno Malinowski (1899-1976 sculptor)
Charles Boegh (sculptor)
Adam Thylstrup (sculptor)
Niels Norvil (sculptor and potter)
Arne Bang (1901-1983 sculptor and
potter)
Johannes Hedegaard (1925-, sculptor)
From 1852-1935 the products from Ipsen won countless numbers
of awards on exhibitions all over the world'
The factories marks(Pressmarks): P.I (1843-50),
P. Ipsen(1850-70), P.Ipsen eneret (1871-1917) and P.I.E. (with a
crown)(1918-55) also from time to time the signature of the artists can
occur.
P. Ipsens Enke closed in
1955.
Ipsen a pair of candlesticks with parrot glaze by Thorvald Bindesboell year 1915
Ipsen ampfore vase year 1875
Ipsen bæger Bindesbøll
Ipsen bæger på fødder orange
Ipsen black glazed The mermaids find by Ellen Locher year 1905
Ipsen braided bowl year 1875
Ipsen copper glazed vase year 1875
Ipsen deer heads with Danit and brown glaze by Axel Salto year 1951
Ipsen deer with elite glaze by Axel Salto year 1951
Ipsen fabulous monster by Georg Thylstrup year 1927
Ipsen fabulous monster by Georg Thylstrup year 1929
Ipsen figurine with jade glaze Venus Kalipygos by Kai Nielsen year 1910
Ipsen isbjørn askebæger
Ipsen Leda with the swan by Adam Thylstrup year 1937
Ipsen lustre glazed vase with gold glazed handles year 1875
Ipsen parrot glazed floor vase with owls by Niels Norvil year 1915
Ipsen pibeholder orange
Ipsen vase blå med smal hals
Ipsen vase with celadon glaze by Axel Salto year 1951
Ipsen vase with fungus and parrot glaze by Chr. Joachim year 1905
Ipsen yellowbrown walrus jug by Charles Boegh year 1903
Ipsen yellowgreen pot with pea pods by Georg Jensen year 1903
Ipsen yellowgreen swan vase by Axel Jensen year 1905
