Stavangerflint Finse.... and a gift for mum

Just as I was concidering starting to collect Stavangerflint Finse (it's one of those patterns I grew up with, I'm a hopeless nostalgic...), a teaset for six appeared in a local charity store yesterday for next to nothing! Of course, I concider no more, the matter is settled now and I'm in love- again!!!

Finse is named after a mountain area in the middle of Norway and was designed by Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa in the 60s. Finse is actually where George Lucas shot one of the Star Wars movies in 1979!! The landscape there was supposedly a good representation of the planet Hoth... Now that's a fact I never thought I'd mention in this blog:-) 

My parents had a Finse teaset, but gave it away to a charity store years ago, long before I was old (or wise!!) enough to appreciate it. I was really thrilled to find it. It's in a delicious light olive with brown trim, and is very rustic.

  

 

I adore Fjeldsaa's designs. Born (1918) and raised in Sandnes, close to Figgjo, he was a "homegrown" ceramic artist, educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Oslo from 1937-42. From 1958 Fjeldsaa became head of design at the earthenware factory Stavangerflint AS in Stavanger. After the merging of Stavangerflint AS and Figgjo Fajanse AS in 1968 to Figgjo Fajanse Stavangerflint AS, he continued as head of design and product development from 1973, after Ragnar Grimsrud, who had that same position at Figgjo Fajanse, retired. 

As a ceramic artist Fjeldsaa was a pioneer in the use of stoneware. His objects from this period were highly appreciated and he was awarded a gold medal at the Triennal in Milan in 1954 and at the International Exhibition of Ceramics in Cannes in 1957. As artistic manager and designer at Stavangerflint he made his designs both in "flintware" (fine earthenware), ovenproof models, vitroporcelain and stoneware. His most well-known creations are the model Kongsstein, the flintware series Brunette and Finse in stoneware. 

Fjeldsaa is known for his subtle relieff patterns, like Brunette. The decor is integrated in the design with a discreet surface pattern, highlighted by the color and glaze. He was also the designer behind the  pieces that were decorated by Inger Waage, also a Sandnes girl, like Sera and Kon Tiki.

Fjeldsaa and Waage in the late 50s. Picture from the Stavangerflint archives 

at the Figgjo museum. 

Like Finse? My great blog friend Artic Mum still has four salad plates for sale at her ScandiShop on Etsy. She compared them to Arabia Ruska, a thought that never crossed my mind, but she's absolutely right! The surface has that same coarsenes and the shape of the plates are quite similar. I will definitely use them together. Finse can add some lightness to the otherwise gloomy Ruska (don't get me wrong, I love gloomy...). Just like Ruska, I think Finse too looks very modern and ahead of it's time. Do visit the ScandiShop even if you're not in the market for Finse, she has a lot of lovely pieces.

 

I also found this Lotte Gravy boat for my mum. She has the dinner set. Lotte was designed by Turi Gramstad Oliver in 1962, and was in production for 23 years, until 1985. While setting the table at my mum's, I took a few pics of her beautiful plates and the lovely tablecloth she chose to go with them. Mum and dad also uses their Skaugum cutlery daily. It's in teak and steel and was designed in the late 40s. It's still in production at Geilo by the very same family that started the business, look here. The teak has, however, been replaced by Kebony. If you're lucky you can find them in teak in thrift stores, but if you do, you'd better keep them out of the dishwasher...

 

In my post about my recent visit to the Figgjo museum I totally forgot to mention that there's a book out about the factory, containing a lot of interesting history and a lot of pictures. I did, of course, get a copy:-) Unfortuneately, it's currently only in norwegian. Should there be a lot of international interest, though, they might be convinced to publish an english version.

 

I love this picture of the young and beautiful Turi Gramstad Oliver proudly holding a dish in her newly introduced Lotte pattern in 1962. She was only 24, what a gal!

Don't you just hate the sound and look of broken pottery? This 50s Graveren piece didn't make it home....