Set of 2 Collectible Vintage 40s plates ‘BENGALI’ from Rörstrand Sweden / 21,5 cm.
Rörstrand was founded in the castle of Rörstrand in Stockholm in 1726. (This makes it the second oldest ceramic factory in Europe after Meissen). A consortium of twenty wealthy noblemen and merchants financed Johann Wolff, a German porcelain maker, to start the factory. The project was part of the strong mercantilist current in the early 18th century Sweden – the goal was to make the country self-sufficient as much as possible.
Rörstrand started to make faience, a tin-glazed earthenware. The decors were often cobalt blue flower patterns, inspired by Chinese and Dutch porcelain. They were hand-painted on unburned glaze, then covered with a clear glaze, and then burned. The faience objects were fragile and damaged easily. But pottery slowly became more common among wealthy people, gradually replacing metal food pates.
In the latter half of the 19th century, Rörstrand started producing bone china and feldspar porcelain. The factory had some prosperous years, and it became one of Sweden’s ten largest corporations. Rörstrand started the Arabia factory in Finland in 1873 to circumvent the high trade tariffs to the growing Russian market. In the 1880s, the characteristic three crowns (a symbol of Sweden) were added to the factory mark. This was the “great dining era” in Sweden where decorated dining rooms and large dinner services gave prestige to the household. One of more popular series was “Flytande blått” (Liquid blue) with cobalt blue decor showing oriental scenes.
By the turn of the 1900s, Rörstrand was successful at exhibitions around the world with its Art Nouveau style. The factory aimed for new technical and aesthetic heights, and artists were hired at a rapid pace. Alf Wallander (1862-1914), the artistic leader, was internationally recognized for his art pieces and innovative tableware. In 1926, Rörstrand moved from Stockholm to Gothenburg, and only a few years later, to Lidköping.
- Era – 1940s
- Diameter – 24,5 cm
- Made in Sweden
- Manufacturer – Rörstrand Sweden
- Material – faience
- Condition – great / signs of age and use appear / scratches on the surface / old stains on the surface / crazing on the glaze / see images.
