In 1835 Herman Sonne Wolffsen and Edvard Chr. Sonne
started the Soholm factory on bornholm (Denmark). From
1841 Wolffsen was the sole owner of the company. At first the
yellow house keeping faience from Bornholm was the main area of
production. It included jars, bowls, pudding-tins
and the likes. A big success at Soeholm was pipes,
that are even today very much in demand. The pipes were produced
during World War II, but unfortunately the factory was bombed in
1945, destroying the specially built pipe-ovens and much more. More
people were employed during World War II, hereby avoiding that they
were sent to Germany to work.
During the 1960'ties and -70'ties a lot of stoneware was
produced, which have now become collector's items. In the
1990'ties the factory was noted for its tea pots and
mugs in rich colours such as olive-green and
curry-yellow.
The factory had financial problems for several years. In 1983
Soholm applied for an administration order, but avoided closing
down. However, by 1995 the factory did close. Soeholm's design and
know-how has been taken over by the company Ancher Iversen Denmark
(Atelier) recently renamed Aida.
Soholm
Herman Sonne Wolffsen and Edvard Chr. Sonne started the
Soeholm factory in 1835. Soeholm is the oldest ceramics
factory on Bornholm (Danish island in the Baltic). The name
originated from the factory in which the two founders had been
employed - a faience factory situated in Hvidoere by Hellerup in
Copenhagen (1828-1839).
From 1841 Wolffsen was the sole owner of the company. At first
the yellow housekeeping-faience from Bornholm was the main
production. It included jars, bowls, pudding-tins
and the likes. A big succes at Soeholm was pipes,
that even today are very much in demand. The pipes were produced
during World War II, but unfortunately the factory was bombed in
1945, destroying the specially built pipe-ovens and much more.
By 1928 the factory was bought by the municipality of Ronne, to
maintain jobs within the local district. In those days the factory
had a staff of 40 people. To avoid unfair competition Soholm was
taken over by a partnership company in 1933. Simultaneously the
factory was renovated and modernized. By 1938 the factory employed
56 people (24 female employees). By 1939 the employment was
independent, since the factory was owned by the employees (Bought
up by the Union of Ceramics workers).
More people were employed during World War II, since the union
referred unemployed to the factory. Hereby they avoided that they
were sent to Germany. 200 people worked at the factory in 1945,
producing dinnersets and other everyday utensils in batch
production.
During the 1960'ties and -70'ties a lot of stoneware was
produced - now collector's items. During the 1990'ties the
factory is most noted for its tea pots and mugs in
rich colours such as olive-green and curry-yellow. The factory had
financial problems for several years. In 1983 Soholm applied for an
administration order, but avoided closing down. However, by 1995
the factory was closed temporarily - at that time employing 36
workers. Soholm, or their design and know-how was taken over by the
company Ancher Iversen Denmark (Atelier) recently renamed Aida.