Hjorth's Factory or Factory of Hjorth's
Hjorth's Factory was founded in 1859 in Ronne
on Bornholm (Danish island in the Baltic). In those days the name
was L. Hjorths Terracotta-factory. Lauritz Hjorth (LH) was an
educated potter from The Faience-factory of Edvard Chr. Sonne in
Rønne. He started the factory in his parents house in Ronne. In the
beginning production included flowerpots, matchholders and
watercoolers.
Already in 1862 the factory could move to its present location
in Krystalgade - the production including decorative
items, in a time when such factories usually produced
kitchen utensils.
Already by 1880 Hjorth's articles were sold in the big
department stores of Paris, London and Berlin, and as far away as
in Australia, New York and Sct. Thomas.
The children of Lauritz Hjorth took over the company following
their father's death in 1912. Thora was in charge of the painting
workshop, while her brothers did the throwing and turning.
At the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1910, Hans Hjorth's
stoneware received the gold medal.
The famous pharmacy pitchers in stoneware were produced at
Hjorth from 1927. They came with lids in various sizes.
During World War II they startet the production ofwhite-glazed
fiance. It was a wide selection of many item numbers from tea sets
over pitchers to bowls and dishes - often with narrow, close set
grooves. This style was designed by Erik Hjorth (Peter Hjorth's
son).
Fourth generation Hjorths - Ulla and Marie Hjorth took over the
factory in 1982 after the father Erik Hjorth. Both sisters work
with individually characterized ceramics as well as tableware. The
factory was closed from 1993 to 1995, but was reopened in
1995 as a working museum.
Hjorth's Factory or Factory of Hjorth's
Hjorth's Factory was founded in 1859 in Ronne
on Bornholm (Danish island in the Baltic). In those days the name
was L. Hjorths Terracotta factory.
Lauritz Hjorth (LH) was an educated potter from The Faience
factory of Edvard Chr. Sonne in Roenne. After serving his
apprenticeship, he travelledi n France, Germany and The Czech
Republic acquiring new skills at the same time as enjoying and
absorbing art and culture. The journey lasted for three years after
which he startet the factory in his parents house in Ronne.
In the beginning the production included of flowerpots,
matchholders and watercoolers. Business was so good, that
the factory already in 1862 could move to the present location in
Krystalgade. By now production consisted entirely of
decorative items, in a time when such factories
usually only produced kitchen utensils for kitchen-use.
By 1865 Hjorth's employed 10 people, among those the later
famous poet Holger Drachmann. Before long the factory had to expand
into the nabouring building. It was great business copying ancient
Greek vases and Danish antiquities.
Black terracotta (coal was fired in the ovens simultaneously
with the items) was made from 1880. The factory had great success
internationally, and already by 1880 Hjorth's articles were sold in
the big department stores of Paris, London and Berlin, and as far
away as in Australia, New York and Sct. Thomas. The factory also
participated in the big World Exhibitions in Altona 1869, London
1870 and 1874 as well as New Orleans 1885.
When turism made its entry around the turn of the century Hjorth
produced souvenirs such as little plates, ashtrays and
Bornholm runic stones etc. The children of Lauritz Hjorth
took over the factory following the death of their father in 1912.
Both sons were educated at the factory and had afterwards acquired
new skills abroad. All of them had worked in the factoryprior to
LH's death. Thora was in charge of the painting workshop, while her
brothers did the throwing and turning.
Hans Hjorth fired his first stoneware in 1902.
The stoneware was sold from his fathers shop and exhibited
successfully in Copenhagen. At the World Exhibition in Brussels in
1910, his stoneware received the gold medal. Sales were great for
export as well as in Denmark. Stoneware series in greyish brown
were produced from 1913.
Export stopped during World War I. Hjorth's products were mainly
soldin Denmark. Batch-produced stoneware was the trade mark
following the war.
The famous pharmacy pitchers in stoneware were produced at
Hjorth from 1927. They came with lids in various sizes. The
production were initiated after orders from Esbjerg Kroneapotek.
The production of Pharmacy pitchers stopped during World War II,
since the factory had problems getting hold of the raw material as
well as wood for firing the pitchers (stoneware is fired at 1300
degrees). Instead they startet the production of white-glazed
fiance, fired at considerably lower temperatures. They had a
considerable production of faience until 1960. It was a wide
selection of many item numbers from tea sets overpitchers to bowls
and dishes - often with narrow, close set grooves. This style was
designed by Erik Hjorth (Peter Hjorth's son). All primarly sold
from the factory shop.
From 1930 various artists worked for the factory. Fourth
generation Hjorths - Ulla and Marie Hjorth took over the factory in
1982after the father Erik Hjorth. Both sisters work with
individually characterized ceramics as well as tableware. The
factory closed from 1993 to 1995, but was re-opened in 1995
as a working museum.Here it is possible to see production
techniques and articles dating back to 1859, just as you can see
the sisters working, and buy ceramic items in the museum shop.