Jens Ferdinand Willumsen (1863-1958)
Vase, 1897
Stoneware
During the period 1895 to 1898, J.F. Willumsen created a large number of vases with very different glazes, including this bottle-shaped vase whose glaze has been augmented with copper shavings. Exactly how this glaze would look after firing was undoubtedly highly unpredictable. As it turned out, Willumsen achieved a striking surface speckled in turquoise and black, with a vibrant, organic overall feel.
Willumsen let a professional thrower make the vases, as it was the glazes that particularly interested him, urging him to experiment.1 His recipe book testifies to this desire. Over the years, Willumsen made detailed notes on different materials, glazes, firing processes and the final results. Perhaps this was why it was important for him to have the firing take place at his home in Hellerup, where most of his ceramic vases were fired.
Willumsen let a professional thrower make the vases, as it was the glazes that particularly interested him, urging him to experiment.1 His recipe book testifies to this desire. Over the years, Willumsen made detailed notes on different materials, glazes, firing processes and the final results. Perhaps this was why it was important for him to have the firing take place at his home in Hellerup, where most of his ceramic vases were fired.