Michael Andersen & Sons

Jens Michael Andersen (1859-1931)founded the Michael Andersen and Sons Pottery (MAS) in the 1880s on the island of Bornholm, Denmark – one of the major centres of Danish pottery production during the 19th and 20th Centuries. Jens had trained at the local Hjorth pottery. His 4 sons worked in the pottery, and one son, Daniel (1885-1959) developed the iconic “Persia” glaze which in 1935 received the gold medal at the World Exhibition in Brussels. The Persia mimics the effect of a mosaic and lends a character all of it’s own. This glaze went on to be used on many designs well into the 1960s and was exploited to maximum by Marianne Starck.

It is the “Art Pottery” of the 1950s -1970s which MAS are now best known for worldwide although some of the Art Deco designs are exceptionally beautiful and rare.

Marianne Starck originally from Germany, was one of the top Ceramicists who contributed to the success of Michael Andersen & Sons Pottery in the 20th Century. She started with the Factory as Artistic Director in 1955 and remained until its closure in 1993, designing many iconic series of which the “Negro” series is probably one of the most coveted now.

Since 1930 items from MAS have usually been marked with the three fish stamp in various designs. The 3 herring mark is also the official seal of the town of Ronne, where the factory was located. Prior to this pieces were only marked with MA&S.

The pottery was in part resurrected by ceramicist Solveig Ussing, and it operates currently from a small workshop in Ronne, where some of the original MAS moulds are still used.