On offer is a pair of functional pottery from the celebrated
ceramicist Marianne Westman: two ceramic
containers for storing flour (Mjöl) and salt (Salt) that can
be either mounted on a wall or set on a countertop or window sill. These creamy gray jars have an abstract blue motif
that is echoed in many of Westman’s Nytt Kök (“New Kitchen”) designs. Each container comes with a solid teak lid.
Marianne Westman worked for the Rörstrand factory from
1950-1971, where she enjoyed tremendous success, becoming renowned for her whimsical,
light-hearted household pottery designs.
Her creations were so wildly successful – both domestically and abroad –
that she was often lovingly referred to as the “Mother of Porcelain” by her colleagues
at Rörstrand, which included Hertha Bengtson and Carl-Harry Stålhane.
Each containers jar stands approximately 8 inches
tall (20 cm), is about 5 inches wide (13 cm), and has a depth of about 4 inches
(10 cm). The weight of each container is
about 1.8 lbs (820 grams).
Condition Report:
This collection is in good vintage condition. There is evidence of repairs done to each of
the two lids.
Flour (Mjöl):
The exterior glazing is vibrant, and oblique lighting reveals very
few scuff marks on the cobalt blue-colored glaze. There is a spot of crazing on the exterior near
one of the upper corners that extends into the interior of the bowl. The outside crazing catches the nail on the
outside and inside, suggesting a hairline fracture (Pictures #4 & #5 ). The interior is clean and odor-free, but
there are a pinpoint “glaze pop” at the base of the interior. The unglazed back is unremarkable. The teak lid has had one of its “ears” reapplied
very coarsely with a compound that was applied too thickly (Picture #6). (In my testing, the lid proved to be
structurally sound.) This item is unnumbered but stamped “Rörstrand Sweden” and
with Marianne Westman’s initials.
Salt (Salt): The
exterior glazing here is also vibrant, and oblique lighting reveals very few
scuff marks or scrapes on the cobalt blue glaze. There are several pinpoint “glaze
pops” on the exterior, largely masked within the blue design. The interior is clean and odor-free, and
there is no evidence of crazing or damage.
The unglazed back does have a few areas of blue smudging, which likely
occurred during manufacture. The teak
lid here has also had one of its “ears” reapplied, but this repair was done with
a compound that did not seep through – nonetheless, the crack is visible (Picture #7). (In my testing, the lid proved to be
structurally sound.) This item is
unnumbered but stamped “Rörstrand Sweden” and with Marianne Westman’s initials. (It was also noted that while the bottom is glazed, there is glaze
missing over the word “Rörstrand.”)
Shipping:
The listed shipping is for buyers in the contiguous United States. If you reside in Alaska or Hawaii, please contact me for a shipping quote. My auctions are currently closed to international customers, but if you reside outside the US and are interested in bidding, please reach out to me. (Please understand that I am not responsible for any duties or delays imposed by Customs in your country, and I cannot declare any items shipped to you for less than their sale price.)
Since I am a new seller, for auction lots with more than one item, I may use an outside packing service in order to help ensure that your purchase arrives damage-free. Fragile collectibles will be double-boxed where appropriate and practical.
Return Policy:
As a longtime buyer of vintage pottery, I understand that
disappointments sometimes happen. Terms
like “excellent” and “near mint” are subjective, meaning wildly different
things to different people. And it can
be difficult to agree on when “wear and tear consistent with age” has ventured
into the territory of actual damage.
Rather than quibble, if you
are dissatisfied with any item that you purchase from me, for any reason,
simply return it to me within 14 days in the condition in which it was sent,
and I will happily refund your money. I
will pay for return shipping costs, but regrettably, I cannot refund outbound
shipping and handling fees in such cases.
Of course, should an item sustain any damage during transit, you will receive a complete refund. (In the event
that a multi-item shipment sustains only partial damage, please contact me so
that we can work out a satisfactory solution.)
All I ask in return is that you document any damage, retain all packing
materials, and assist me during the claims process.
In my experience, the best transactions are ones where there
is open, honest communication on both sides.
My goal is to find happy homes for these treasures, with the hope that
they will bring their new owners as much joy as they’ve brought me.
About Me:
I have been an avid Blue Fire (Blå Eld) and Koka Blue (Koka Blå) collector for almost 20 years. I own over 400 pieces in each line, so if you are hunting for something in particular, please reach out to me – there’s a good chance that I have what you’re looking for. I absolutely love chatting with other Rorstrand enthusiasts!
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’d rather be deluged with questions than to
have my buyers experience one drop of regret with any item that I sell.
