On offer is a beautiful three-piece coffee set from Rörstrand’s “Kadett” service. Designed by Hertha Bengtson in the 1950s, the “Kadett” service was produced in both red and blue colorways, with the blue variant being much more rare. (Please note that this set has five pieces if the lids to the coffeepot and sugar bowl are counted.)
The coffeepot in this collection stands about 10 inches tall (25 cm) when lidded, and has a handle-to-spout width of approximately 6 ¾ inches (17 cm). The capacity is modest, holding just over 4 cups, or one liter of liquid. However, the two pieces driving the cost of this lot are the ones that are much more difficult to find: the lidded sugar bowl, whose flared lip has a diameter of about 3 ¾ inches (9.5 cm); and the slender creamer, which stands at approximately 4 inches tall (10 cm) and has a capacity of approximately 50 ml. This iconic mid-century set is sleek, elegant, and versatile enough to pair with any number of coffee cups from various Rörstrand service lines.
Condition Report:
These items are in excellent vintage condition. There is no evidence of repair to any of the components of this service. This collection comes for an estate where it was used for display purposes only.
Coffee Pot: The exterior glazing on the coffeepot is vibrant and beautiful, and oblique lighting reveals virtually no evidence of scrapes or scruffs to the gleaming exterior. Many Kadett pieces up for auction are plagued with very bad staining and brown age-related discoloration, and I am pleased to report that there are no such issues noted on this piece. The spout, handle, and inner opening of the pot are all smooth to the touch. The hand-painted red striping is reasonably uniform, and only a few errant drops of red glaze are noted on the exterior of the vessel. The interior is extremely clean and odor-free. There are a few manufacturing anomalies to discuss. First, on the outer lip of the top of the pot, there are two depressions in the glaze, one of which is smooth (Picture 10, 6 o’clock), and one of which is slightly darker and catches the nail (also Picture 10, 8 o’clock). Also, towards the bottom of the vessel (below the red vertical stripes) there is a series of small indentations in the glaze that are smooth to the touch. And while they do not require oblique lighting to notice, they are largely hidden in the “shadows” of the pot, particularly for right-handed users. (Picture 12 highlights this area best, but Picture 3 shows how this area would appear under “normal conditions.”) On balance, this is an excellent copy of this coffeepot. This item is unnumbered but marked “Rörstrand Sweden KADETT” and was manufactured in the 1950s.
Lidded Sugar Bowl: This is the most impressive piece of this collection, and there is truthfully very little to fault here. With its smooth edges, lack of crazing (craquelure), and lack of staining, this is about as near-mint a copy of this item as I’ve ever seen. Even the unglazed footring is clean and shows only minimal signs of “wear and tear” (Picture 15). The lid is dainty, elegant, and very well-preserved. Like the coffeepot, this item is unnumbered but marked “Rörstrand Sweden KADETT."
Creamer: Like the sugar bowl, there is very little to fault in this gem. It is entirely free of stains and crazing (craquelure), and all edges are smooth to the touch. Oblique lighting does reveal two very small “pinpoints” in the exterior glaze (one of which is highlighted in Picture 11). While the interior is clean and odor-free, when a finger is run along the area behind the handle, a small inconsequential rough area is noted (a manufacturing anomaly that is very difficult to see). Despite these nitpicks, this is an excellent copy of this item, which is also unnumbered but marked “Rörstrand Sweden KADETT."
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, especially as it relates to used items. 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.
