Lyngby Porcelain and Petit Sourire – oh, this is truly a love story! So you can imagine that I am more than happy to share this story with you.

If I ask you of what you think first when you hear Lyngby Porcelæn, I am sure you will answer with “The Lyngby vase”!

And yes, the classic Lyngby vase is the one most people associate with Lyngby Porcelæn and after more than 50 years, the Lyngby Vase is more popular than ever.

The white cylindrical vase, with its distinctive grooves, is a symbol of modern functionalism in the history of Danish porcelain.When the Lyngby vase was originally designed, it stood in strong contrast to classic and very traditional porcelain techniques. Its oblong, grooved shapes and elegant simplicity were entirely new.

Ornamentation and decoration were the norm until the 1920s. There was more of a focus on how the porcelain was decorated than on its shape. The Lyngby vase challenged convention, strongly influenced by the functionalist Bauhaus movement in Germany, where the spotlight was on form and functionality, not just embellishment.

The Story

The Danish Porcelain Manufactory – Lyngby Porcelæn (1936–1969) has always made a significant mark on the story of Danish porcelain in artistry and production alike. When production was at its peak, the factory accounted for one-third of all Danish porcelain production. The people who established the Danish Porcelain Manufactory in a disused sugar refinery in Lyngby in 1936 were truly driven souls! The entrepreneurial wholesale company Holst & Knudsen was behind its establishment, having first acquired Kjøbenhavns Porcellains Maleri in 1924, subsequently setting up in-house production of porcelain dinnerware, vases and other high-quality artisan pieces under the name of the Danish Porcelain Manufactory – Lyngby Porcelæn. The factory was equipped with the latest technology, taking Lyngby Porcelæn to the forefront of the industry and simultaneously laying the groundwork for the design heritage that is now more relevant than ever.

The Danish Porcelain Manufactory – Lyngby Porcelæn closed in 1969 and remained frozen in time until 2012, when the Danish Porcelain Manufactory – Lyngby Porcelæn rose again and is today behind the relaunch of the iconic designs, now recreated with the utmost care and respect for the design heritage. In 2017, Rosendahl Design Group embarks on a new chapter in the story about this darling of Danish design.

Rhombe

The Rhombe range is a tribute to classic dinnerware. Clear, clean-cut lines, chalky-white porcelain and patterns from the archives.

Rhombe baubles – such a sweet winter decoration, don’t you think?

Time for everyday decadence! It is so easy to create a festive table setting with the Rhombe dinner service.

The Rhombe pattern is from the extensive design archives of Lyngby Porcelæn and was first seen in the popular oven-proof Danild range in 1961. Back then, the pattern was transferred onto the porcelain as a decoration, but the new, updated 2016 version instead uses the delicate rhombuses as a relief on the porcelain. The rhombus structures are built up layer upon layer – like an artichoke – using a highly complex process that only a handful of porcelain manufacturers would tackle today. The pattern gives the range a pretty, classic look, a pleasant tactile experience and also ensures a secure grip.

The large Rhombe vase is just perfect for branches and you can easily put there a large amount of (possibly heavy) flowers.

 

Tsé

My absolute favorite collection is Tsé with its elegant curves and beautiful matt appearance. The porcelain is fired so intensely that the products do not require a glaze. Instead, they are all hand-polished, lending a subtle structure to the finish. This method adds an interesting contrast to the fine, light porcelain.

Taiwanese designer Pili Wu (1986) graduated from Shih-Chien University, specialising in industrial design. The cultural influence seen in his work is not the kind of Chinese cultural heritage we typically see in museums. Instead, it is a combination of all the artistic and sensual impressions he draws from his own life in Taiwan. Together with HAN Gallery and Lyngby Porcelæn Pili Wu created the Tsé collection as a part of spring collection 2015.

Developed during the Chinese Song Dynasty, eggshell porcelain or bodiless chinaware is a unique technique which produces remarkably thin and light porcelain wares, which feel almost as thin as eggshell. On those porcelain pieces, patterns can be easily seen through under the light.
The fine eggshell porcelain wares are often exclusive products made in limited quantities, since the production processes are very complicated and time-consuming. The brief the designer Pili Wu received from HAN Gallery was to research into the complicated processes, in order to make fine eggshell porcelain wares more affordable for the market.

Photo credit: Pili Wu

Pili Wu first looked into the history of the technique. Traditionally, eggshell porcelains are first fired at around 800 degrees Celsius, and then treated by very experienced craftsmen to carve out excess surface to achieve the desired thinness. In the end, the porcelains are fired again at 1280 degrees to bring about the final products. After a long trial and error venture, the theory has been proven to work well.

I am very happy Pili is here to tell us more about this beautiful collection.

Dear Pili, thank you very much for being here.

Tsé sounds so beautiful. Does it have a special meaning?

Yes, there is a special meaning. In Chinese TSE means porcelain.

Your collaboration with HAN Gallery had a great success. How long did you work with HAN Gallery?

I worked about 2-3 years with HAN Gallery .

We are all so curious! How did you get the idea to create the Tsé collection?

The ribbed pattern on Tsé is inspired by the structure of disposable plastic wares used in Taiwanese roadside restaurants. When the patterns are applied to the fine porcelain the ancient craft is brought into an interesting contemporary context.

Photo credit Pili Wu. First sketch – before

Photo credit Petit Sourire. In real life – after 

Is there any story connected with Tsé collection you would like to share with us?

First time I showed this project in Milan, I put the disposable plastic wares I collect from Taiwan together with Tse, I found people love the disposable plastic wares more than my design!

It’s fun, because if you visit Taiwan, you can find a lot of disposable plastic wares on the street and no one will love them…and now it become a beautiful object in the west culture. No one will believe it in Taiwan.

Which is your favorite activity/hobby besides the design?

Maybe DJing? I love to share my favorite music to people.
Also I got a lot inspiration from the great producer around the world.

Where did you get the inspiration?

Everyday life, in Taiwan.

How would you describe Tsé in 3 words?

Light, Fusion, Glocal.

Could you please tell us, which is your favorite product from Tsé collection?

I like the water-cup, I can use it everyday.

Are there any plans to design something new for Lyngby Porcelain in the future?
If there will be  any opportunity in the future, I would love to try!

Please find more about the Designer Pili Wu here and about the Tsé collection here. Thank you very much Pili, it was a pleasure to have you here with us!

 

New Spring Collection 2019

Curve vase – Classic sculptural design

Every product from Lyngby Porcelæn has been treated with the greatest care and attention, resulting in the finest porcelain products. Passing through the hands of Lyngby Porcelæn workers, every item is given the love it deserves to finally result in the finest sculptural vases.

Handmade with Love
Did you know that the vases shrink in the oven? That is why the molds are made 17% larger than the final vases will become. Passing through the hands of craftsmen, every vase is given the love and dedication it deserves.

Inspired by original shapes in the archives, the Lyngby Curve vase expresses our high standards for precise, almost sublime craftsmanship. The iconic grooves combine with a matte texture to create a silky-smooth surface – calling to mind the comforts of the home this season.

The hands of talented craftsmen who create the vases, show the accuracy and competence in which each vase is sculptured.

The curved lines have a matt surface and finish with a glossy collar. The Curve vase is an eye-catcher in your home and looks dazzling with both a few single spring branches with green buds and the season’s first flowers.

Rhombe egg cups + salt and pepper set

The new egg cups with Rhombe relief completes the breakfast table with a nostalgic dispute and lifts the morning servings to classical heights.
The pretty, classic Rhombe salt and pepper set by Lyngby Porcelæn stands 6.5 cm tall and is embellished with an elegant rhomb pattern all the way around the conical shape. The salt and pepper set is made of glossy white-glazed porcelain with one hole at the top for the salt, and three for the pepper. You fill them from the bottom, where a white silicone stopper keeps the hole sealed. It’s great for the breakfast and dinner table.

Easter porcelain eggs

Precision tools and a high level of professional skill are demanded when the small, elegant Easter eggs in the finest porcelain are shaped, baked and glazed. It is this meticulousness that Lyngby Porcelæn has adopted to create the Easter egg that you will want to hang as soon as the Christmas decorations are packed away. The egg and Easter have been closely connected for many years as part of Danish tradition. It is said that the chick breaking out of the egg symbolises the resurrection of Jesus.’

Beautiful pastel tones make the porcelain eggs just perfect!

I love the new collection, you too?

I hope you enjoyed reading the portrait. My appreciation goes to Lyngby Porcelæn for this  beautiful collaboration. Thank you very much!

Sunny greetings from France,

Arminka aka Petit Sourire