Scandinavian Art Pottery: Denmark and Sweden [Hardcover]

Robin Hecht (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999 | Series: Schiffer Military History

Scandinavian art pottery, long appreciated regionally, has enjoyed a rediscovery by international collectors over the past five years. Using almost 500 dramatic color photos, this book explores the major factories, workshops, and studios that initiated and created ceramic modernism in Scandinavia, including Royal Copenhagen, Saxbo, Kahler Keramiks, Ipsen, Gustavsberg, and Tobo. Also recounted are brief histories of Denmark and Sweden's most influential designers, including Patrick Nordstrom, Axel Salto, Nils Thorsson, Cathinka Olsen, Gertrud Vasegaard, Josef Ekberg, and Gunnar Nylund. Written by a recognized expert in the field, this long anticipated book provides well researched, up-to-date information on the factories and ceramicists that collectors are most interested in, plus accurate information on marks, dating, and values. Clearly photographed and written, this essential reference will provide collectors with the knowledge necessary to enhance and build unique and valuable collections of some of the finest art pottery ever created.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robin Hecht is a writer and antique dealer who has been collecting and dealing Scandinavian ceramics since 1993. She lives in northern California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764310445
• ISBN-13: 978-0764310447
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,149,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More appropriately titled: My Danish Art Pottery collection, December 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Scandinavian Art Pottery: Denmark and Sweden (Hardcover)

I'll begin by stating that I am an avid collector with extensive knowledge of Scandinavian studio art pottery. And while I don't consider myself necessarily and authority on the topic, I'm not writing a book on it either. I found Hecht's book informative on some levels and largely misinformative or under-informative on others. The information gathered here filled a gap in collector's books that was long overdue. It is unfortunate, however, that this book is littered with very poor and inaccurate references to its topic. It contains either false, nebulous or no reference at all to some pottery marks and their meanings & rarity. Some of the most significant factories and artists are often barely touched on or left out completely while several pages will be devoted to others that are comparatively far less significant. I also found that of those artists featured, many have no reference to their most representative work. Not to mention, 3/4 of the book is devoted to Danish work, with the last afterthought 1/4 to Sweden, which is, in my opinion, diametrically allocated. And as for values, I don't know where these came from -- some are strangely through the roof while the very few absolute hottest collectible artists will be strangely undervalued. I hate to think that the author is providing this to help sell her own collection at terribly inflated values alongside her Fleetwood Mac albums and tour buttons on eBay while picking up the best pieces at lower prices. Some of us are not fooled.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied reader from Scandinavia, March 8, 2007

By 

Kristoferson Jan "Jan K" (Scandinavia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scandinavian Art Pottery: Denmark & Sweden (Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

This is the best available introduction to Danish and Swedish pottery that I know of. Especially the chapters on "Royal Copenhagen", "Saxbo" and "Arne Bang" are excellent. The material on Swedish pottery are not at all that good but still O.K.

5 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great introduction to Scandinavian art pottery, March 25, 2000

By 

Sanjay Singh (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scandinavian Art Pottery: Denmark and Sweden (Hardcover)

I'm not a collector of pottery of any kind. I saw this book at a friend's and started reading it. The history of the pottery houses and different genres are very well explained here and it's a compelling read. I was able to even see styles and artists that matched my sensibilities. Overall, I learned something new and saw many pieces of art pottery that I enjoy. I understand why Scandinavian art pottery is so collectable now.