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Rörstrand

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(Redirected from Rorstrand Faience)
Rörstrand
IndustryCeramic tableware and artware
Founded1726
ParentFiskars
Websitehttp://www.rorstrand.com/

Rörstrand porcelain was one of the most famous Swedish porcelain manufacturers, with production initially at Karlbergskanalen in Birkastan in Stockholm.

History

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Rörstrand Factory 1896
Porcelain tip in 2008 by Karlberg Castle in the background.
"Peacock Vase" by Anna Boberg, two variants 1897
Transfer-printed teacup in the "Green Anna" pattern
"Nobel tableware" in 2005

The Rörstrand waterfront site was first documented in the 13th century when Magnus Ladulås donated property to the Convent of Poor Clares. In 1527, the area was returned to the crown under Gustavus Vasa. The area was named "Rörstrand" because the clear lake's shore was overgrown with reeds.

After an "Associations contract between all concerned in the Swedish Porcelain works, which will be established at great Rörstrand in the Delft manner" was signed in 1726, a porcelain factory was built at the castle of Rörstrand.[1] The factory had indeed been given the privilege to produce true porcelain, but faience was the only ware that was made until the 1770s. In 1758, the rival manufactory at Marieberg began to produce porcellanous stoneware. High production costs, a small market, and intense competition from imported Chinese porcelain kept Rörstrand from trying to copy Marieberg's goods.

By the 1770s, Rörstrand began producing its version of English stoneware, but it took a substantial amount of time until Rörstrand mastered the technology. After the acquisition of Marieberg in 1785, Rörstrand was the only major Swedish porcelain factory, and technology was not a priority. Only after Gustavsberg, founded in 1826, became a competitor, mass production of transfer-printed tableware (earthenware) took off. During the 1860s, the Rörstrand porcelain facility was one of the nation's largest factories.

In 1900, Rörstrand employed around 1,100 people. The factory's products had an excellent reputation worldwide, and it participated successfully in various art and industrial exhibitions.

The expansion of Stockholm required land for housing. In 1926, the factory in Rörstrand was closed and demolished. Production was then moved to Gothenburg (after the Gothenburg porcelain factory was acquired) and then to Lidköping in the 1930s.

Between 1960 and 1990, Rörstrand passed through several owners, including Upsala-Ekeby AB, Finnish Wärtsilä, Hakusan and Gustavsberg porcelain factory. As of 2001, Rörstrand is a part of Iittala, which moved production to Sri Lanka and Hungary. On 30 December 2005, the factory in Lidköping closed down. Thus, an important chapter of Swedish industrial history ended after almost 280 years. In 2007, Iittala, which owns the Rörstrand brand, was acquired by Fiskars.

The former porcelain factory is now a museum, in which the legacy lives on.[2]

Tableware

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Complete dinnerware table sets in the same decor could be ordered from the beginning. These sets were usually custom-made, and no product names were assigned.

When printed decors for mass production appeared —the first dinnerware dates from 1826—they were not given product names. In the mid-1800s, a few descriptive names, such as "Turkish pattern," appeared in the price lists, but product names for tableware were introduced only at the end of the 1800s. The exception is the Willow pattern, already well-known and well-reputed in England; Rörstrand produced its decor version between 1830 and 1888.

The "Purple Lace" pattern was one of the most popular tableware patterns of the 1800s. It was produced from 1845 to 1934 and remained popular well into the 1900s. At the turn of the century, Rörstrand created a range of tableware sets, such as "Bella" and "Vineta," produced for nearly 50 years.

Another of Rörstrand's long-running dinnerware sets was "Green Anna" (Swedish: Gröna Anna or Grön Anna). The Gothenburg Porcelain Factory produced the design starting in 1926. Ostindia is an example of one of the factory's popular designs; it is still made today.

As for more recent productions, "Mon Amie" - the white porcelain tableware with cobalt blue nuanced flowers - was designed by Marianne Westman in 1952. Through the years, "Mon Amie" became a classic and was relaunched in 2008 as a celebration of Marianne Westman's 80th birthday.

In 1956, Rörstrand designer Hertha Bengtson developed "Koka Blå". In the 1960s, the "Koka" design was also launched in brown and green versions.

Some important products

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  • Since the 1760s, leading manufacturers of stoves
  • 1760s: first printed decors
  • 1770s: first pieces of earthenware
  • 1881: first dinner service of feldspar porcelain
  • 1930: presentation of the National tableware, designed by Louise Adelborg, the Stockholm Exhibition of 1930
  • 1991: presentation of the Nobel tableware, used since the Nobel Banquet

Some Rörstrand designers and potters

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  • Crayfish plate, probably designed by Alf Wallander (1862-1914), Rorstrand, c. 1911, creamware
    Crayfish plate, probably designed by Alf Wallander (1862-1914), Rorstrand, c. 1911, creamware
  • A plate from Rorstrand's Mon Ami line, designed by Marianne Westman
    A plate from Rorstrand's Mon Ami line, designed by Marianne Westman
  • A Rörstrand mark on the bottom of a piece from the Vieta line, Carl Harry Stalhane
    A Rörstrand mark on the bottom of a piece from the Vieta line, Carl Harry Stalhane
  • A detail of the braided detail on a piece from the "Blå Eld" (Blue Fire) line.
    A detail of the braided detail on a piece from the "Blå Eld" (Blue Fire) line.

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "History". Rorstrand Museum. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  2. ^ Wenkel, Sarah (March 2018). "'Our porcelain has traveled all over the world'". Scan Magazine. No. 110. p. 40.

Sources

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  • Ankarberg, Carl-Henrik; Nystrom, Bengt: Rörstrand in Stockholm: brick, ceramic fajansmanufaktur and major industry 1270-1926, Stockholmia, Stockholm 2007, Monographs issued by the City, 0282-5899; 184 (Swedish). ISBN 978-91-7031 - 184-0 (inb.). Libris 10,468,157
  • Bæckström, Arvid: Employment and disciplinary conditions in Rörstrands porcelain factory during the 1700s, the Museum of Technology, Stockholm 1934 (Swedish). Libris 10,353,271.
  • Bæckström, Arvid: A so-called Cadogan-pitcher from Rörstrands childhood, Gothenburg 1951 (Swedish). Libris 10,553,574
  • Bæckström, Arvid: Some ceramic messages: one more Cadogan-pitcher, Gothenburg 1953 (Swedish). Libris 10,553,585
  • Candr'eus, Cecilia: "... new materials and manageable products ...": of Gustavsberg Fabriker manufacture of household plastics 1945-1970, Department of Art History University of Uppsala, Uppsala, 1998 (Swedish). Libris 10,145,021
  • Eriksson, Gunilla: Flint Porcelain with printed decoration, Kulturen, Lund 1969 (Swedish). Libris 10,556,682
  • Folcker, Eric G.: The oldest Rörstrandsfajanserna, 1910-1925 (Swedish). Libris 10,556,740.
  • Herlitz Gezelius, Ann Marie: Rörstrand, Signum, Lund 1989, Books on Art (Signum), 99-0345976-9 (Swedish). ISBN 91-85330-91-4 (inb.). Libris 7748022
  • Jarefjäll, Katali; Quirin Bertil: Rörstrand: people, objects, plant, Bertil Quirin, [center] 2006 (Swedish). ISBN 91-972714-2-X (inb.). Libris 10,283,218
  • Johansson, G.: Rörstrand: from manufacture to modern large-scale industry, 1726–1944, Malmo 1944 (Swedish). Libris 9820376
  • Lagercrantz, Bo: Iris, Vineta and Green Anna Rörstrands Tableware 1860-1960, ICA, Västerås 1962 (Swedish). Libris 8873368
  • The new Rörstrand. [Sweden] 1951 (Swedish). Libris 11,356,427
  • Lagercrantz Stay: Rörstrand: decors 1850-1990, Rörstrands museum, [Lidköping 1990 (Swedish). Libris 1235293
  • Nystrom, Bengt; Brunius Jan: Rörstrand 280 years: the faience, earthenware, porcelain & stoneware, Ica, Västerås 2007 (Swedish). ISBN 978-91-534-2785-8 (inb.). Libris 10,140,658
  • Rörstrand Museum (Lidköping); Eklund Petter: Rörstrand Museum: everyday products and porslinsprimadonnor, Rörstrand Museum, Lidköping 2008 (Swedish). Libris 10,740,953
  • Vogel Rödin Gosta: Rörstrand 250 years: the exhibition 17 June to 31 August 1976, Västergötland tourist association, Skövde 1976 (Swedish). Libris 1,320,085
  • Gyllensvärd Bo, Hernmarck Carl: Rörstrand during three centuries: 1726-1943: Exhibition April 3 to May 16, 1943, *Nationalmuseum, Stockholm 1943, the National Museum exhibition catalog, 0585-3222, 91 (Swedish). Libris 1,411,525
  • Rörstrands porcelain factory., Strengnas printed to Carl Erik Ekmarck. 1831 (Swedish). Libris 10,197,300
  • Rörstrand Decors., Hackman Rörstrand, Lidköping 1996 (Swedish). Libris 2233424.
  • Scherman, Susanna, 1964 -; Perlmutter, Michael: The Swedish stove: 1700s production from Marieberg and Rörstrand, *Wahlström & Widstrand, Stockholm 2007 (Swedish). ISBN 978-91-46-21687-2 (inb.). Libris 10,415,873
  • Ray, Gustaf Holdo: Rörstrand and Marieberg: a contribution to the Swedish ceramics history of UTI 18th century., The author., Stockholm 1870 (Swedish). Libris 1585292
  • Ray, Gustaf Holdo: Rörstrands history and the effects of 1726-1850., Stockholm 1879, Rörstrands collection of earthenware and porcelain, a (Swedish). Libris 1610727
  • Terrine from then and now: Rörstrand United States 260 years, 1986 (Swedish). Libris 3264927
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