Posted 10 years ago
VioletOrange
(150 items)
The works of Karin Blom (1881 – 1951) are not often encountered. I have found out little about her and would love to know more.
In a 1956 limited edition book (1000 copies) on Patrick Nordstrom there is text on page 65 describing the type of vases produced for the 1914 Baltic Exhibition in Malmo, Sweden – vases that were an apparent collaboration between Nordstrom and Blom, specifically:
"We also see the beginning of decoration on stoneware with Karin Blom’s beautiful work where flowers, leaves, and branches are painted like ornaments with Nordstrom’s different blue, green and yellow/brown colored glazes.” (This is a rough translation from Danish)
Before 1916 every piece of stoneware made at Royal Copenhagen was individually numbered and therefore unique. All three of the vases shown here were made before that date (circa 1912-14) and are not typically found for sale.
Vase #1: 7.5 inches tall
Vase #2: 6 inches tall
Vase #3: 5 inches tall
Photo #4: typical mark/signature
Here is a link to a PICASA web album showing other examples of Karin Blom’s work. These represent most of the pieces I have seen in several years of periodically searching the internet, including the three I own (with their marks/signatures).
https://picasaweb.google.com/104071982751589208246/KarinBlom?authuser=0&feat=directlink
PICASA web album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/104071982751589208246/KarinBlom?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Thanks for sharing these with us VO!
Thanks "vet", my pleasure
They are gorgeous! No 16 in the picasa album was sold on an auction here in Sept. 2013 for DKK 5500 (= USD 1010), but you have probably already seen that. I haven't been able to find much more about her (not even in the large book on RC stoneware I have at home at the moment).
You have a stunning collection!
jensen,
#16 in my opinion is a great example and, at 8 inches, taller than any of my three. #12 (not a particularly good example IMHO is 3.5 inches tall and sold on eBay for $240 (the seller was FreeForms from NYC)
Thanks maryh1956
I've just consulted a work that was published in 2013, 'Japonism in Danish Art and Design' (alas, in Danish), written by a well-renowned art historian. Two vases by Karin Blom are pictured as examples of Japanese influence in Denmark and she is briefly mentioned as one of several female artists (Cathinca Olsen is another) working in this period whose works are poorly documented. So apparently the full chapter on Karin Blom is yet to be written!
I really, really appreciate your interest and your effort here. Thank you.
Excellent Collection, thanks for sharing
I've unexpectedly come across some more info on Karin Blom in a book about the pottery factory P. Ipsens Enke ('P. Ipsen's Widow', in existence 1843-1955) for which she appears to have worked in the 1920's. Here's a summary: Anna Katerina (Karin) Holm was born in Sweden and married a Dane, Otto Blom, 0n July 2, 1909. She worked at Royal Copenhagen 1913-1918 and at Ipsen in the 1920's, probably as a visiting artist as only one of her works is listed in the sales catalogue. In 1919 she received an honorary prize from the Danish Museum of Design for her ceramic works (mentioned in the Danish press). At Ipsen she was the first to produce stoneware and her works were mainly unique - she often used a grayish blue glaze with white decoration (in the book there's a photo of a lidded bowl dated ca. 1925). Finally, we know that she participated in an exhibition in Stockholm in 1928 (mentioned in the Swedish press). - Not much info, but at least a little more!
Thanks VERY MUCH jensen, great information, it is appreciated. I'll post some other Scandinavian pieces soon. Ernie