Mid-Century Vase by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen

Swedish-Danish ceramic artist and designer Nils Johan Thorvald Thorsson (1898–1975) created a prolific body of work for the ceramics manufacturer Royal Copenhagen. His work is often presented as an exemplar of mid-century Danish modernism and is praised in the field of ceramic design.

Thorsson was born in Eslöv, Sweden  in 1898. At the age of thirteen he apprenticed at the Alumina Factory in Copenhagen, before studying at and graduating from the Royal Danish Academy in 1917. Just over a decade later, he was appointed Artistic Director of Alumina in 1928, a post which he held for forty-one years.  When Alumina purchased Royal Copenhagen in 1949, Thorsson stayed on as Artistic Director of the merged company, leading a team of talented designers which included Bethe Breyen, Kari Christensen, Johanne Gerber, Grete Helland-Hansen, Berte Jessen, Marianne Johnson, Inge Lise-Koefoed, Ellen Malmer, and Ivan Weiss, among others.

Thorsson’s work as a designer varied greatly theamatically, from the naturalistic featuring birds, fish, and butterfly motifs, to the abstract and geometric. During his time at Royal Copenhagen, Thorsson was the factory's most prolific designer, designing at least five of  the best known production ranges for the company including Solberg (1930s); Marselis (Alumina, 1950s), which was an elegant, yet affordable line for everyday use; Tenera (1960s); Baca (1960s), which features highly detailed and complex relief patterns; and Diana (1970s), as well as many other pieces in glazes that are lesser known and harder to find on the vintage market. Both the Baca and Tenera Series featured forms designed by Thorsson himself, while other were a team effort. Objects and patterns by Thorsson are marked with his cypher on the base.

Thorsson passed away in 1975 in Copenhagen. Today, his mid-century earthenware designs are coveted by collectors and vintage lovers alike.

The Royal Copenhagen brand was founded as the Royal Danish Porcelain Manufactory in 1775 by chemist Frantz Heinrich Müller (1738-1820), under the protection of Denmark’s Queen Juliane Marie. Like all monarch-sponsored porcelain workshops initiated in countries around Europe in the 18^th century (e.g. Meissen, Sèvres, Wedgewood), Royal Copenhagen products were intended to compete in the market for expertly crafted Chinese imports, which were wildly popular among European aristocracy at the time. When Müller discovered a Danish source for kaolin, the crucial ingredient in fine, hard-paste porcelain, the Queen seized the opportunity to contribute to her local economy (as well as her international status) and awarded Müller a 50-year monopoly on porcelain production in Denmark.

Royal Copenhagen’s signature Blue Fluted pattern—the cobalt blue-on-white scrolling floral motif—was developed from the outset under Müller’s direction to imitate the stylized chrysanthemums found on Chinese imports, as well as the look of Meissen porcelain (the first true porcelain produced in Europe). This collection and its variants continue to be the brand’s bestseller today. Other iconic works from Royal Copenhagen’s production include the Flora Danica service (1790-1803), which feature polychrome plants and flowers inspired by the botanical encyclopedia of the same name and originally made for Catherine II of Russia; and, more recently, the modernist Blue Line dinnerware collection developed by architect-designer Grethe Meyer in 1965. 

In nearly 250 years, the Royal Copenhagen brand has produced over 1,500 pattern variations on high-quality porcelain and faience cups, mugs, jugs, bowls, plates, tea sets, and more, typically employing highly skilled artisans and, since the 20^th century, collaborating with talented designers. The production procedure for each piece has evolved since the early days, but it still takes a few months to complete each set. The process starts with a delicate model produced by a 3D printer and then perfected by hand. This first sculpture is then used to make the final mold by a computerized milling machine; a porcelain liquid is then carefully poured into this and embellished with handles and decorations. Lastly, the unique artwork is hand-painted before it is glazed and fired at nearly 1375°C.

Over time, Royal Copenhagen has passed hands from succeeding Danish sovereigns to the Aluminia faience company in 1882, and later in the 20^th century incorporating with other Danish applied arts specialists like Georg Jensen, Holmegaard Glassworks, and Bing & Grøndahl. It’s now a subsidiary of Fiskars. The brand’s identifying stamps have also changed over time, but have consistently included three elements: three wavy lines symbolizing the Øresund, the Great Belt, and the Little Belt waterways in Denmark, the crown emblem representing the traditional royal patronage, and the individual artist’s signature marks.