This is a fabulous piece of Danish modernist ceramics. It was made in the late 1950s at the Soholm Pottery. The pottery was one of the oldest ceramic factories in Bornholm. It sadly closed in 1996. It was founded in 1835 by Herman Sonne Wolffsen and Edvard Christian Sonne.
The large piece of Soholm pottery is a rather strange piece - as although it is shaped as a vase - I think that it was probably designed to be more of a stylish sculptural item - as there is a large hole in the base. This hole was made in the creation of the piece and not a later addition. I dont think that it was designed as a lamp - as there would have been a channel cut in the base edge to allow a cable to lie flat on a table - and the top of the piece has not lighting fitting. I think that this piece was designed always as a vase-type item for display only and not use! For the purposes of my description here, I will just call it an art vase.
The vase was made at the Soholm Keramik Pottery in Bornholm, Denmark. It was made by the designed Svend Aage Jensen. It is signed with his initials on the base, as photographed.
Svend Aage Jensen (1918-80) worked for Soholm from 1944 until his death in 1980, he was an expert in glazes and developed the glazing techniques for many Soholm designs.
It is a fabulous large piece and measures 13 1/4 inches (32 cm) in height. the diameter is 7 inches at the widest point. The rim at the top has a diameter of 4 inches. The foot has a diameter of 5 inches. It is 2.2 kg unpacked. Bit of a stonker - and looks fabulous on display!
The Art Vase is has a shiny black ground colour which is randomly decorated all over with very glossy sky blue and dull lime green dappled marks. I think decoration suggests a landscape - as there are also the addition of abstract shapes in glossy white - these are all painted by hand very quickly with great expression - and these look like ears of corn. This motif appears frequently on his 50s ceramics for Soholm.
Obviously, Jensen with creating an abstract organic design - it is certainly very mid-century in form. Probably late 1950s or early 1960s on stylistic basis. It is certainly a tour-de-force of his skills with coloured glazes. It is a unique piece - you wont find another one.
My price takes into consideration its large size, excellent condition (no damages) and the intricacy of the applied glazes. Jensen's early pieces are always sought after.
The interior of the vase at the top was always intended to be seen - and there is a similar glossy mottled glaze going down the interior for about 2 1/2 inches.
Postage will have to be to the UK only with Parcelforce24. This will be just over £10 and applied to your order at the checkout.