Jörg Schwandt
The Magic of Ceramic Glazes
Nils Thorsson and the Artist Stoneware of Royal Copenhagen 1932–1975
The Magic of Ceramic Glazes
1 Nils Thorsson circa 1940
Stoneware
Carved decoration
H 11.3 cm ⌀ 11.5 cm
Moulded decoration
H 3.8 cm ⌀ 16.2 cm
3 Nils Thorsson circa 1948
Carved decoration
H 8.9 cm ⌀ 13 cm
Stoneware
2 Nils Thorsson circa 1950
Porcelain
21 Stoneware workshop 1934/36
H 8 cm ⌀ 13 cm
22 Stoneware workshop 1934/36
Stoneware
Carved decoration H 5 cm ⌀ 18.2 cm
Stoneware
23 Nils Thorsson 1962
Stoneware
Ink-brush painting H 13.5 cm ⌀ 10 cm
29 Nils Thorsson about 1960
Stoneware H 14 cm ⌀ 11 cm
30 Nils Thorsson about 1960
Stoneware
Glaze containing zircon
H 8.5 cm ⌀ 4 cm
31 Nils Thorsson circa 1960
Stoneware
Glaze containing zircon H 5.5 cm 5.5 × 4 cm
64 Stoneware workshop 1934
Stoneware
Brushed with copper glaze before firing H 18.8 cm ⌀ 11 cm
65 Stoneware workshop about 1935
Stoneware
Brushed with copper glaze before firing H 10.7 cm ⌀ 8.2 cm
66 Stoneware workshop about 1935
Stoneware H 10.8 cm ⌀ 18 cm
75 Nils Thorsson 1962
Porcelain
H 5.5 cm ⌀ 18 cm
74 Nils Thorsson about 1960
Porcelain H 12.5 cm ⌀ 12.2 cm
76 Axel Salto 1950/55
Porcelain
H 23.8 cm ⌀ 13.8 cm
88 Nils Thorsson about 1965
Stoneware
Silk print and ink-brush decoration
H 1.5 cm ⌀ 23 cm
89 Nils Thorsson about 1965
Stoneware
Silk print and ink-brush decoration
H 1.8 cm ⌀ 23 cm
90 Nils Thorsson 1952
Stoneware Ink-brush painting
Part of the Palmgren series
H 9.5 cm ⌀ 27 cm
111 Nils Thorsson about 1955
Stoneware
Various iron glazes
H 15 cm 12 × 12 cm
Ink-brush decoration under the glaze
H 5.5 cm ⌀ 17 cm
112 Nils Thorsson 1959
Stoneware
137 Designed by Nils Thorsson in 1931
Stoneware containing fire clay of sand-like structure
Stencil decoration
H 5 cm ⌀ 34 cm
138 Designed by Nils Thorsson in 1931
Stoneware containing fire clay of sand-like structure
Stencil decoration
H 18.5 cm ⌀ 12 cm
139 Designed by Nils Thorsson in 1931
Stoneware containing fire clay of sand-like structure
Stencil decoration
H 7 cm ⌀ 12.5 cm
The deeply luminous, finely textured glazes of classic Chinese ceramics have long fascinated connoisseurs and collectors. At firing temperatures of 1300°C, the ceramic body and the glaze are fused together into a new materiality of great aesthetic and emotional power. Their extraordinary beauty is illustrated by way of the classically inspired works of the Royal Copenhagen stoneware department, created between the 1930s and 1970s.
The Magic of Ceramic Glazes intends to seduce the reader to a world of nature-like beauty that solely arises from earth and the power of fire. Through precise observation and vivid descriptions, the book aims to open up a horizon of experience that will be unknown to most readers.
Numerous detail photos reveal the causes of the optical and haptic effects that high-fired glazes exert on us. The significance of nature as a source of artistic inspiration is demonstrated with examples, and unexpected decorative effects are illustrated that result from incidental technical imperfections.
240 Illustrations
Artist Signatures
Two Systems of Dating-Codes
ISBN 978-3-89790-748-5