Tea service (Vasegaard)


The tea service designed by Gertrud Vasegaard in 1956 was inspired by Chinese ceramics, most evident in its cups without handles. Produced by Bing & Grøndahl, it was included in the 2006 Danish Culture Canon as a masterpiece of Danish design.

Description

It was while Vasegaard was working at Bing & Grøndahl that she developed an interest in Chinese ceramics. Combining her knowledge of traditional Danish designs with those of China, she created a cup without a handle and a teapot with a flat, inwardly-curved lid and cane handle, both inspired by Chinese models. She also produced a tea caddy, uncommon in Denmark but part of the Chinese tradition, and a milk jug, based on English requirements.
The tea set consists of eight pieces. Although each is individually designed, they are all obviously parts of the same set. The little spots are caused by iron particles in the clay, usually removed with a magnet. Vasegaard thought they gave the porcelain a more distinctive look and persuaded Bing & Grøndahl to leave them in. The combination of simple forms with rather heavier materials and slightly textured surfaces was a compromise between production requirements and a more natural finish. Indeed, not only was the tea service widely distributed, it was also a source of inspiration for younger designers.