Nils Thorsson (1898-1975) was a Swedish-born ceramicist who worked for—and greatly influenced—the Royal Copenhagen ceramics workshops, especially during the Modernist boom following World War II. Royal Copenhagen was founded in 1775 and had already reinvented itself several times in the past. However, to position Royal Copenhagen for success after the War, Thorsson recruited to his Aluminia Fajance division (in 1958) a group of six young women—Scandinavian ceramics designers from Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
One of these women was Beth Breyen. She was Norwegian and a student from the National Craft and Art Industry School in Oslo (1956-1960). Nils Thorsson worked with Beth (and the other women) to develop the Tenera line. He allowed each designer to see where her inspiration would lead her. Beth was one of the artists who had a visibly prominent influence on Royal Copenhagen during the Sixties and Seventies.
One of Beth Breyen's recurring themes was "crazy birds." The plaque, shown above, is one such piece. It shows a bas relief sculpture of two birds, perhaps a mother and her chick. The terracotta birds are glazed with highlights of metallic brown and stand against a rich blue background. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome plaque.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.