Stavangerflint
Encyclopedia
Stavangerflint AS was an earthenware
factory in Stavanger
, Norway, that was in operation from 1949 until 1979.
tableware (earthenware
) for households and for the professional market in Stavanger
, Norway in 1949 under the name of Stavanger Fajansefabrikk A/s.
The initiators, Trygve Brekke (1908–1994) and Trygve Pedersen (1887-1969) took as their starting point the market conditions and needs resulting from inter-war imports of ceramic
tableware
, the war and post-war shortage of goods, and expectations for a growing domestic demand as the country gradually recovered, and as people's purchasing power grew.
Stavanger Fajansefabrikk aimed from the start for a clay mixture and manufacturing process which was to be marketed as Stavangerflint, based on a recipe developed by Josiah Wedgwood
in England around 1750. This was a marketable name which had the aim of presenting the factory's products as strong and durable earthenware.
On 16 April 1952 Stavanger Fajansefabrikk A.s. changed its name to Stavangerflint AS. By adding the word flint
to the company name, the quality angle of the products would be enhanced.
In 1968 Stavangerflint AS merged with its competitor Figgjo Fajanse AS. Stavangerflint continued as a branch of Figgjo Fajanse - Stavangerflint AS.
Thirty years after Stavangerflint had started production and quickly developed into a showcase manufacturing plant, it was closed down. In 1979 the properties in Stavanger were sold. All production was transferred to Figgjo
and the business changed its name from Figgjo Fajanse – Stavangerflint A/S to Figgjo AS.
(1949-1955), Eystein Sandnes
(1955-1957) and Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa
(1958-1968). In 1963 Sigurd Jensen (1919-2000) succeeded Trygve Brekke as managing director. Sigurd Jensen had been Commercial Director and second in command at Stavangerflint from the start. Jensen was to play an important role as the driving force in the processes which led to the amalgamation of Stavangerflint AS and Figgjo Fajanse AS. The new company continued production at the old premises as two branches and the goods had their old markings which were identical to the original factory names.
is the Internet auction sites and shops which sell the factories’ goods. Signed works by Turi Gramstad Oliver, Kari Nyquist
, Gro Pedersen Claussen
, Anne Lofthus
and Inger Waage
are among those who have created great interest among collectors, both national and international. Because many of the products were exported, they are collectables found on international Net auction sites.
Earthenware
Earthenware is a common ceramic material, which is used extensively for pottery tableware and decorative objects.-Types of earthenware:Although body formulations vary between countries and even between individual makers, a generic composition is 25% ball clay, 28% kaolin, 32% quartz, and 15%...
factory in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, Norway, that was in operation from 1949 until 1979.
Company history
Stavangerflint AS started production of potteryPottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
tableware (earthenware
Earthenware
Earthenware is a common ceramic material, which is used extensively for pottery tableware and decorative objects.-Types of earthenware:Although body formulations vary between countries and even between individual makers, a generic composition is 25% ball clay, 28% kaolin, 32% quartz, and 15%...
) for households and for the professional market in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, Norway in 1949 under the name of Stavanger Fajansefabrikk A/s.
The initiators, Trygve Brekke (1908–1994) and Trygve Pedersen (1887-1969) took as their starting point the market conditions and needs resulting from inter-war imports of ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
tableware
Tableware
Tableware is the dishes or dishware , dinnerware , or china used for setting a table, serving food, and for dining. Tableware can be meant to include flatware and glassware...
, the war and post-war shortage of goods, and expectations for a growing domestic demand as the country gradually recovered, and as people's purchasing power grew.
Stavanger Fajansefabrikk aimed from the start for a clay mixture and manufacturing process which was to be marketed as Stavangerflint, based on a recipe developed by Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter, founder of the Wedgwood company, credited with the industrialization of the manufacture of pottery. A prominent abolitionist, Wedgwood is remembered for his "Am I Not A Man And A Brother?" anti-slavery medallion. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family...
in England around 1750. This was a marketable name which had the aim of presenting the factory's products as strong and durable earthenware.
On 16 April 1952 Stavanger Fajansefabrikk A.s. changed its name to Stavangerflint AS. By adding the word flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
to the company name, the quality angle of the products would be enhanced.
In 1968 Stavangerflint AS merged with its competitor Figgjo Fajanse AS. Stavangerflint continued as a branch of Figgjo Fajanse - Stavangerflint AS.
Thirty years after Stavangerflint had started production and quickly developed into a showcase manufacturing plant, it was closed down. In 1979 the properties in Stavanger were sold. All production was transferred to Figgjo
Figgjo
Figgjo is a borough of the city of Sandnes, Norway. It has a population of 1,805.By Statistics Norway it is also considered to be an urban area separate from Sandnes city, but it has grown together with Ålgård in the neighboring municipality Gjesdal. Figgjo and Ålgård have a combined population of...
and the business changed its name from Figgjo Fajanse – Stavangerflint A/S to Figgjo AS.
Management and Artistic Directors
During its 19 years as an independent company, Stavangerflint had three artistic directors: Thorbjørn FeylingThorbjørn Feyling
Thorbjørn Feyling was a Norwegian ceramist and Head of design at the Norwegian earthenware company Stavangerflint AS in the city of Stavanger in south-western Norway. Feyling was Head of design at the Norwegian earthenware producer Stavangerflint AS from its foundation in 1946 until 1955...
(1949-1955), Eystein Sandnes
Eystein Sandnes
Eystein Sandnes was a Norwegian ceramic and glass designer who is known particularly for work done at the ceramic industries Stavangerflint AS and AS Porsgrunds Porselænsfabrik- Biography :...
(1955-1957) and Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa
Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa
Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa was a Norwegian ceramic designer.Fjeldsaa was born in Sandnes in the county of Rogaland, Norway. He was educated as a ceramicist at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Oslo 1937–1942 and trained in the workshop of Jens von der Lippe from 1936 to 1946...
(1958-1968). In 1963 Sigurd Jensen (1919-2000) succeeded Trygve Brekke as managing director. Sigurd Jensen had been Commercial Director and second in command at Stavangerflint from the start. Jensen was to play an important role as the driving force in the processes which led to the amalgamation of Stavangerflint AS and Figgjo Fajanse AS. The new company continued production at the old premises as two branches and the goods had their old markings which were identical to the original factory names.
Artists
An important source for information about what was produced in the potteries in RogalandRogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
is the Internet auction sites and shops which sell the factories’ goods. Signed works by Turi Gramstad Oliver, Kari Nyquist
Kari Nyquist
Kari Nyquist is a Norwegian ceramist. She is most associated with her decorated ceramics from the Stavangerflint AS plant in Stavanger, Norway. Her designs are most often found pottery of blue clay or stoneware.- Biography :...
, Gro Pedersen Claussen
Gro Pedersen Claussen
Gro Pedersen Claussen Norwegian graphic designer at the earthenware factory Stavangerflint AS in Stavanger, Norway, and textile designer at Sandvika Veveri, Bærum, Norway...
, Anne Lofthus
Anne Lofthus
Anne Lofthus Valla was a Norwegian ceramic artist and art teacher. Her artistic style was influenced by the folk-culture of rural Norway, in particular the cultural traditions from Telemark, where she was born and grew up....
and Inger Waage
Inger Waage
Inger Waage, , was an industrial ceramist at the Norwegian producer of earthenware, Stavangerflint AS.-Biography:She was born in Stavanger on the West coast of Norway. In 1943 she was accepted as a student at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Oslo to study ceramics for...
are among those who have created great interest among collectors, both national and international. Because many of the products were exported, they are collectables found on international Net auction sites.