Designer Desire: Egersund

Various ceramic designs from Egersund

This post was initially going to be about Kåre Blokk Johansen. However, so little is known about him and his designs that we’ve expanded it to include a couple of other Egersund designers. The pottery was in existence from 1847 to 1979, but we’re going to concentrate (mainly) on the mid-century modern designs.

Similar to Finel, shapes would often be designed by one designer and the pattern would be by another. For example, the Solsikke (Sunflower) and Lagune (Lagoon) patterns were applied to the Korulen shape. The Chérie pattern was done on the Circle shape.

What we do know, however, is that the popular Razorbill ‘alkemuggen’ (top) were designed by Jacob Kielland Sømme. They were available in five sizes and produced almost continuously from 1910 to 1979.

Blokk Johansen, the longest serving designer at the company, was responsible for the Unique (manufactured between 1971 and 1976) and Kongo patterns.

Unni Margrethe Johnsen (1942-2001) designed the patterns Lagune (Lagoon) and Solsikke (Sunflower).

Ingrid Marcussen designed the pretty Chérie pattern in 1966.

We have a few Egersund items for sale in our shop at the moment. There are also some available on eBay and Etsy.

If you can help fill in some of the blanks (or errors) in our knowledge, we’d appreciate your insight!

Shapes/patterns (from top to bottom, left to right):

• Razorbill ‘alkemuggen’ – Jacob K. Sømme
• Shape unknown/Inka
• Shape unknown/2 x Kongo
• Shape unknown/Cairo
• Shape unknown/Perfekt (Perfect)
• Shape unknown/Perfekt Sirkel (Perfect Circle)
• Korulen/pattern unknown
• Korulen/Solsikke (Sunflower)
• Unique/pattern unknown
• Unique/Appel (Apple)
• Circle/Chérie
• Korulen/Lagune (Lagoon)

Image credits:

Heidi Arstad | Tove

Forthcoming Attractions: April 2019

Vintage homeware selection | H is for Home

It’s been a while since we did one of our Forthcoming Attractions posts. We did actually hold back from buying new stock for a while during the deepest winter months. However, spring has now sprung, so we’re getting back out on the vintage trail. Here’s a small selection of our recent finds.

Vintage Stavangerflint plates designed by Arvid Reikvam | H is for Home

This pair of 1950s/60s plates have illustrations featuring a couple at leisure – playing music together in one, and fishing in another. They’re very sweet, whimsical & charming – and the work of a designer whose name is new to us – one, Arvid Reikvam. We’ll certainly have to investigate him further. The plates were produced by a very familiar company however – Stavangerflint of Norway.

Egersund pottery dish | H is for Home

On to another well-known maker of vintage Scandinavian pottery – indeed, another Norwegian factory, Egersund. We love this simple, stylised flower design. We have a few pieces dotted around our own house. This handled dish has a multitude of possible uses – or it could just sit on a shelf looking pretty!

Vintage white goose-neck desk lamp | H is for Home

Next up is a bit of vintage lighting, something we’re always keen to get hold of – good looking and useful. This flexi-neck desk lamp has a real space age style. We like the shade detailing too, three narrow slots allowing shafts of light upwards in addition to the main downward directional task light.

Vintage orange metal numbers | H is for Home

We couldn’t resist these vintage metal locker numbers. We loved the bold orange colour and fabulous aged patina. Someone out there must have the perfect use for them!

Mills Moore cutlery set | H is for Home

Last, but certainly not least, we have a large quantity of 1960s Mills Moore cutlery. This beautifully designed range is made from stainless steel with walnut handles. We get many requests for this cutlery so we’re sure that there’ll be some interested parties amongst our readers. We actually have six of each of all the knives, forks and spoons shown above.

All items will be heading to our web shop soon. However, if your particularly keen on anything, please feel free to drop us a line.

New vintage this month!

Arabia pottery salt pot with blue heart decoration. Sirpa pattern designed by Raija Uosikkinen | H is for Home

It’s been quite a while since we added fresh stock to our online shop. We’ve been busy with various summer trips to the Lakes, Hereford, London and Brighton. Also, the antiques centre where we hold lots of stock closed out of the blue recently… long story! So, that all needed sorting out too, which was quite an upheaval.

Having re-grouped, we’re back on top of things – and have added over a dozen new vintage items across various departments this week. That’s currently more than 400 pieces of vintage loveliness for your perusal!

You can click on each image to be taken to its product page on our shop website.

Vintage mid-century modern brass charioteer figure | H is for Home Pretty lidded pottery casserole dish with daisy decoration. Produced by Egersund of Norway in the 1950s/60s. | H is for Home
Vintage Elio Martinelli 660 lamp / Flex Calotta designed in the late 1960s/early 70s | H is for Home Vintage Hjerte Stage Monsterbe Paro cast iron taper holder with original box | H is for Home

And, if your after something in particular that you can’t see, please get in touch…you never know what’s lurking in our storeroom!

Scandinavian pottery picks

Trio of Scandinavian pottery items: Egersund, Rorstrand and Gustavsberg | H is for Home

Having not found any for a while, we’ve picked up some very nice pieces of vintage Scandinavian pottery recently. And hailing from Scandinavia isn’t all they have in common. Gorgeous, colourful patterns also link them!

Small vintage Egersund lidded casserole pot with daisy decoration | H is for Home

Up first, we have the pretty yellow daisies on a lidded dish produced by Egersund of Norway.

Vintage Arabia Sirpa salt pot with blue heart and flower decoration | H is for Home

Then we have blue hearts and flowers of the Sirpa pattern designed by Raija Uosikkinen on this lovely salt pot by Arabia of Finland.

Vintage Gustavsberg bowl - Bersa pattern designed by Stig Lindberg | H is for Home

And finally, one of our favourite designs – the repeating, stylised green leaves of this Bersa bowl produced by Gustavsberg of Sweden – designed by the wonderful Stig Lindberg, of course.

So, three different countries of manufacture however, a distinct collective look. And if you really like them, check out our webshop – at least two of these pieces will be appearing for sale very soon.