The secret of Scandinavian decoration is its details

Minimalism, maximalism or "lagom"

picture of  Alvhem (Sofa table,  marked Haslev, Denmark.)

The Scandinavian decoration is not only what we see represented by an IKEA furniture and accessories decoration, nor am I saying that they cannot exist, or even that they are totally minimalist. What is true is that these details are mostly objects chosen very carefully and that seek to represent something from each person. An essence to both the home and its owner. The truth is that these details have a purpose. It turns out that in Scandinavia we can spend quite a few months stuck at home. These months range from mid-October well into April of the following year, that is, approximately 6 months. These are six months in which we leave the house in the dark in the morning and return home again in the dark at 4 or 5 pm in the afternoon. The result of this is to find that our home, due to the lack of natural light, is as livable and harmonious as possible.

picture of Alvhem (The Jetson Armchair by Bruno Mathsson is a real design classic)

picture of Alvhem (Louis Poulsen lamp) 

Having a couple of furniture, a few paintings, colored or white walls, kitchen without a soul could seem like a minimalist description, but not necessarily Scandinavian. The Scandinavian style is something more; it is more vivid and more harmonious. It is functional in form and style but without losing its essence and it is full of details that to the eye of a minimalist can be seen as maximalist. What happens is that everything is in its own space, fulfilling a function and not looking cluttered.

A small lamp in the window is essential in Scandinavian countries, candle holders with candles, a large piece of furniture accompanied by small armchairs, comfortable with cushions that invite you to sit, baskets with blankets to shelter at the foot of a fireplace, and plants that indicate that there is life in the cold white winter seen from the windows. Personally, I enjoy having little ceramic objects to put on the windows and small tables. The objects in the Scandinavian style bring a whole world of details, but they allow your home to have coziness in terms of space, form, and function. 

Picture of Stadshem (The string shelf - a Swedish design icon)

Picture of Stadshem

You can almost say that everything is in its own context in each space, but it really is not as minimalist as it seems. It is full of life. As for the typical phrase of minimalism: "less is more", it can be said that it cannot be taken literally. Rather, “less” refers to the Scandinavian style being precise and adequate, and “more” refers to the style being as simple as possible while yet keeping the details. In short, using the Swedish word "lagom" is more appropriate for the Scandinavian decoration.

picture of Stadshem ( Heracleum lamp)

"Lagom" itself does not have a precise translation in any language, but its interpretation is neither little nor much; “lagom” is enough, it is a balance. "Lagom" represents a whole philosophy that also defines Swedish and Scandinavian decoration. This can vary, however, in a range from minimalist to maximalist and depending on the individual. The person’s needs determine to what degree this range moves on one side or the other side. The important thing is that it keeps its essence and functionality.

pinture of Stadshem 

Another important point in the Scandinavian style is that there are many objects for home decoration. Thus, it is impossible to be changing decoration constantly when new IKEA furniture is released. Items include everything from lamps, furniture, and ceramics to cabinets and shelves. In these cases, we prefer a sofa, a lamp, a ceramic or a painting of good quality. All these objects are "timeless" that can last a lifetime and do not have to be new or replaced often. Many of these objects could also be inherited, bought in second-hand stores, street markets, online pages for second-hand objects such or auctions. The most interesting thing is that they can be obtained at a very good price and if one gets tired, they can be easily be sold or given to another person because there are always people interested in them. The decoration in Scandinavian style is thus very eco-friendly.

picture of Alvhem ( lamp Z11)

picture Stadshem ( Thonet chair)

Here are some images of the Scandinavian – a style that is not as minimalist as one would think.

Best Wishes to all of you.

 

 

 Old Danish Pottery - Vintage as a Sustainable Product

Bringing it from the past to a sustainable present. This trend of sustainability in the current market is what indicates that a product is magnificent and meets the three requirements (Q.S.P) in my opinion important: Quality, sustainability, and price. The Q stands for quality and compiles the history of the object. It has to do with several things including the artist who made it, the materials that were used, the uniqueness of the object, and the time it was manufactured. The S refers to it being a sustainable product. This means the manufacturing process did not affect the environment negatively (the product was already done). Finally, P refers to the good price. It can be found at a reasonable price (you can get it at a flea market, thrift store, marketplace, or at an auction). Therefore, vintage is sustainable and friendly to the environment and as a business, it should grow by a fairly large percentage in the 21st century. That is why I plan to get very good objects that have those requirements (Q.S.P.).

Vintage objects that come from the past, as a result of a social movement, are very interesting to me. In this case, Danish potters were part of that social movement. Danish ceramics made by artists who lived more than a century ago represent a group of artists who were innovators. Some of them belonged to the Art Nouveau movement, Art and Crafts, and later to the Art Deco, with Bauhaus influence, which resulted in functional and simple creations. These are artistic trends, according to the time in which they made their creations. All these movements saw their light from the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. They represented and were the result of the social changes that occurred all that time. On one the first hand, it was the phenomenon of late industrialization in Denmark in the late nineteenth century. On the other hand, they reflected the mixed feelings left and generated in European and Danish society by the two world wars. All the above set a trend and a way of thinking and feeling for an entire era of artists.

In short, Denmark benefitted from all the changes in its society during that period. The result is an explosion of beauty, quality, and, above all, simplicity in all forms of art, thus earning them a position as they are highly recognized not only in Europe but throughout the world. Here I am going to mention a few.

Michael Andersen & Son started their ceramic factory in 1890 in Bornholm, the small Danish island in the Baltic Sea. As a factory characteristic, Michael Andersen & Son used the mass of clay with contrasting colors in his objects. The main potters and artists in the factory were Michael Andersen himself and of course his sons, especially Daniel Andersen (1885-1959), who was the most creative of his sons. He experimented and played with colors in the same object. For example, he made vases with enamels in new colors. In this way, we can say that these contrasts of shapes, colors, glaze materials, and clay resulted in very interesting ceramics. The special hallmark of the factory was the three fish. My beautiful vase with an art nouveau style of the signature of Michael Andersen & Son is about 20 cm high and 11 cm in diameter here you can see it. 

Next, we have Svend Aagen Jensen (SJ). This ceramist worked for the Søholm Factory (1835-1996) in Rønne in Denmark. He used the sgraffito technique that consists of making cuts or slits with a metal object on a piece of ceramic. He was also an expert in glazed ceramics. Here, I also leave you this beautiful vase from my collection, made approximately in the 1960s by Svend Aage Jensen from the Manilla collection No 3306, with a diameter of 85/37 and 120 mm. 

The two vases are precious and are beautiful details that decorate any part of my living room. So now vintage, without being an artistic movement, can be a sustainable social movement at the turn of the century that we want to have.

If anyone is interested in any object in my collection, you can contact me.

 

 

English porcelain

The devil is in the details, the story behind my treasures ...

The devil is in the details, as I used to say to my youngest son when I explained mathematics to him. It is the same to find the different aspects behind these little gems, found recently in a flea market here in Sweden. The objects I am presenting today are a large plate of tray-type Mason`s brand and two other small ones belonging to teacups of the Ridgway brand. Both brands are of English porcelain.

The beginning of English porcelain occurred in the first half of the 18th century. We all know that before that date, the material used by the nobility to serve the table was generally silver. Materials for other social classes were of lower quality. Due to this curious fact, we can ask ourselves if, before this period, Europeans did not know porcelain. The answer is that yes, they imported it from China only for the richest. The cute little teacups that Europeans were amazed at were brought from China, as many products happen to be today. That is, by chance or not, history repeats itself.

Porcelain was created in the 18th century by the English themselves after various attempts and formulas. This new material gave a new face to silver dinner services, giving way to endless new accessories for tableware (tureens, fruit platters, saucepans, cream containers, jugs, small and large cups, serving plates, etc.).

But going back to the topic of my little treasures from the flea market, these porcelains are not Chinese, they look Chinese for their color and motifs, but they were made in 1800 in England. Mason's cake tray corresponds, according to the stamp, to the year 1835, approximately. This porcelain is from the tableware collection (Bow Bells Blue) of the patent ironstone of Charles James Mason. The patent was made by C. Mason in the year 1813, and it is called ironstone because it is considered very durable porcelain and that made this manufacturer lower its costs and could sell them in large quantities.

It should be noted that one of the characteristics that Mason`s porcelain had, like many other English porcelains of its time, is that many used Chinese and Japanese patterns with oriental landscapes and ornaments. The other characteristic was that many of the English porcelains were made by the transfer method of their drawings. The transfer was very popular in the 19th century and consisted of monochromatic printing on paper that was transferred to the ceramic piece using a metal plate, in this case, copper.

The Ridgway brand plates also have their history. The Ridgway family in Staffordshire was a family that for generations was in the pottery and porcelain business. Their porcelain, unlike that of C. Mason, was addressed to a middle and upper class of the population, making them high-quality products. This company also used the transfer method with very elaborate motifs for their porcelain. Also, unlike Mason's, Ridgway porcelain is glazed, delicate, and thinner. The plates that I found were made in 1832 and blue in color. They have oriental landscape motifs.

Porcelains of the Ridgway family were divided into two large branches. One of the sons, John Ridgway, made very high-quality porcelain and was appointed a Royal Potter during the Victoria era. The other brother, William Ridgway, exported much to the US market. That is to say, the two brothers brought a combination of quality and quantity to the brand.

Here, I show you the photos of my treasures.

 

 Hanakago

Vases with Japanese weaving in bamboo

To understand what we mean, the first thing I must explain is that it is the "hanakago". The hanakago is basically the Japanese basketry to make woven vases and it is part of what they call "Ikebana" (flower arrangements). Also, I can say that the hanakago is a part of the Japanese cultural heritage in which the creativity to build baskets is reflected. These objects are art in themselves, as the Japanese weaver must not only master the art of weaving as well, but the weaver must also master the same material. In the case of bamboo, which is quite straight, it should be sought to take new forms; curved and round.

If we go back to the history of Japan, the hanakago appeared in the 15th century for flower arrangements and for the tea ceremonies of aristocrats and warriors, ceremonies that were framed in aesthetics and exquisiteness. All the above was suitable for the arrival of baskets that became part of the ceremonies. Then in the 19th century, these baskets gave way to new ways of weaving them. They then used bamboo as the main material in a more artistic and daring way and influenced by the West, but as an art itself it developed in the middle of the 20th century.

The pieces are made by hand, made by the same person who gives the sensitivity, and who, in addition, from experience in weaving bamboo, must know the art of mastering the material with different techniques. That is to say, the hanakago are unique artistic pieces, with the technical criteria and sensitivity of their creator. The artists who make this art today belong to a family artistic lineage and are people who have more than 60 years’ experience.

Today, I present you two beautiful Japanese vases with the hanakago art. One of them, the largest of about 30.5 cm high and 19.50 wide, presents two forms of bamboo weaving. One shape is rounded with small bamboo grinding wheels that cover its lower part and with its upper part covered by smaller rows placed horizontally. The different shapes of the fabric, as you can see, generate the effect of two shades of brown in the vase.

The other smaller vase is 19.5 cm high and 14 cm wide. This vase has a uniform weave of round bamboo molars that covers almost everything. The two vases have inside a ceramic vase that is the one that covers the fabrics of the hanakago basket.

They are really very pretty!

 Goldscheider's Vintage Zebra

Vintage objects - Ceramics Goldscheider

Vintage pieces are those that last over time and do not go out of style. A vintage piece is timeless, and it is good to have them anywhere in our house. One of those pieces is ceramics.

Today, I present a small zebra from the vintage ceramics of the Goldscheider family. And of course, as vintage products, the beauty is that they always have a story.

The story behind this zebra is one that comes from the history of the Goldscheider family, originally from Austria. We are talking about the history of several generations of outstanding potters, their founder and the Goldscheider brothers who were forced to emigrate in 1938 during the period of the Nazi occupation. One of them, Walter, emigrated to The United States and the other, Marcel Goldheider, to England. Marcel Goldscheider settled in Staffordshire and worked on figurative ceramics under the firm Myott Son & Co. He later set up his own studio in 1950. The story begins in 1885 with Friedrich Goldscheider, founder of the Goldscheider, porcelain factory in Austria with subsidiaries in Paris and Florence. The works were representative of Art Nouveau or Jugendstil, Sezessionstil (names that this style received according to different countries), and Art Deco.

In the case of Art Nouveau, it was a new art and style from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the first decade of the 20th century, it was a freer and modernist style of the time that sought to break with those other classical styles that occurred in that period. The inspiration was nature and the use of new materials with curves and asymmetries. The other style, Art Deco, can be confused with the previous one, but it has different characteristics. Art Deco as the main characteristic arose when Art Nouveau died. In addition, Art Deco, having begun after the first decade of the 20th century, has coexisted with other styles, becoming more timeless. Art Deco has been able to mix with styles more from the past and wrap itself in more futuristic styles. That is styles that came from ancient Egypt or Greece to the simplification of cubism, and constructivism. Art Deco was more symmetrical and with lines very marked by geometric shapes.

Now we return to our history of the Goldscheider family with three generations of potters, creators of many highly valued and award-winning ceramic objects. Today, those objects that they created are considered unique pieces sought after by many collectors. The case of the zebra that I show you today is created by Marcel Goldscheider produced by the firm Myott Pottery in 1940 in Great Britain, making it a vintage object. We can find it sold at auctions and by individuals from 2000 to 4000 crowns about 200 or 400 pounds approximately. It is a very beautiful piece in the colors of the black and white zebra, hand-painted about 8 cm high and marked at the bottom by Goldsdcheider.

I hope you like vintage and this little zebra that is no longer manufactured, heir to past history. This is in our extensive private collection.

Pasar de la ciudad al campo

 

Escapar del bullicio, de las enfermedades y sobre todo de los peligros de las marchas y enfrentamientos sociales que últimamamente se han suscitado. Muchos citadinos están pensando en salir de las ciudades y buscar la tan anhelada tranquilidad que existen en muchos pueblos y lugares que están en el el campo. Hoy con todo lo que ha pasado en el primer trimestre del año, ¿quién no sueña con alquilar una casita en la que pasar el verano?  si hay que regresar a la ciudad,  o en otros casos  ¿poder  mudarse definitivamente al campo ?

 

 Parece ser que el interés por establecerse en el campo ha ido creciendo. Vivir una vida más tranquila, tener una vida social más cercana a pesar del distanciamiento, cultivar tu propios vegetales y por qué no hasta tener tus propias gallinitas. Por lo menos aquí en Suecia a la llegada del verano esa ha sido la situación y la intención de muchos suecos. Recuerdo al principio por allá los meses de marzo y abril, cuando Estocolmo presentó  un gran contagio y muchos infectados,  algunos habitantes de la capital corrieron hacia lugares ubicados en pueblos tranquilos en los que estaba su segunda residencia de verano. Buscando un refugio tranquilo para estar más protegidos.

 

Por motivos del virus que ataca al mundo, se ha aconsejado los suecos a no viajar fuera de las fronteras del país, si es posible solo a otros países europeos sino que nos  quedemos en casa. Por lo tanto muchos  citadinos suecos,  sueñan con una casita campestre con un hermoso y verde jardín lleno de flores frente a un hermoso lago sueco en el que puedan bañarse cada vez que el sol brille y el calor esté fuerte. Estar en ropa ligera veraniega, bañarse en un hermoso lago (existen muchísimos), o pescar en un tranquilo lago, hacer largos paseos para contemplar la exuberante y verde vegetación, montar en la bicicleta para dejarse llevar por algún hermoso camino. Sí porque está es la mejor representación de cómo se vive el verano acá. Una vida tranquila siempre acompañada de la naturaleza y en familia en los largos días de verano, que empiezan con mucha luz a las 4 de la mañana  y que terminan ya avanzada la noche como a las  10.

Ahora muchos quieren tener una casita a las afueras de las ciudades, es por  eso que me considero afortunada de vivir en el campo...  me gusta tener un jardín exuberante en el que puedo cultivar y plantar, mi huertica de pantas aromáticas, mi invernadero del que ya más adelante dejaré fotos, estar en los muebles del jardín desde donde pueda contemplar el cielo unas veces nublado otras veces brillante y hermosamente azul. Y sentirme agradecida por tener  mi propia casa en el campo lejos del bullicio de la gran ciudad.

 

 

 

 Escape the hustle and bustle, the diseases and especially the dangers of the marches and social confrontations that have lately arisen. Many citizens are thinking of leaving the cities and seeking the long-awaited tranquility that exists in many towns and places that are in the countryside. Today, with everything that has happened in the first quarter of the year, who does not dream of renting a little house in which to spend the summer? If you have to return to the city, or in other cases to be able to move permanently to the countryside?

It seems that the interest to settle in the countryside has been growing. Living a calmer life, having a closer social life despite the distance, growing your own vegetables and why not having your own little chickens. At least, here in Sweden at the arrival of summer that has been the situation and the intention of many Swedes. I remember in the beginning of March and April, Stockholm presented a great contagion and there were many infected. Some inhabitants of the capital ran to places located in quiet towns where their second summer residence was. They were ooking for a quiet refuge to be more protected.

Due to the contagious outbreaks around the world, Swedes have been advised not to travel outside the country's borders, if possible, to other European countries but rather stay home. Therefore, many individuals living in Swedish cities now dream of a country house with a beautiful green garden full of flowers in front of a beautiful Swedish lake, where they can bathe whenever the sun shines and the heat is strong. Yes, because this is the best representation of how summer is lived here. Being in light summer clothes, bathing in a beautiful lake (there are many), fishing in a calm lake, taking long walks to contemplate the lush green vegetation or riding a bicycle to let yourself be carried along some beautiful path. A quiet life always accompanied by nature and with the family in the long summer days, which begin with plenty of light at 4 am and end late at night around 10pm.

Now, many people want to have a little house on the outskirts of the cities: that's why I consider myself lucky to live in the countryside. ... I like having a lush garden in which I can grow and plant, having a garden with aromatic plants and my greenhouse of which I will leave photos later on. And from the garden furniture contemplate the sometimes cloudy sky, sometimes bright and beautifully blue. And feel lucky since I have my own house in the countryside far from the bustle of the big city.

Oficina en el hogar / esquinas de trabajo

Espacios versátiles para nuestros días de confinamiento apropiados para tele-tele.

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Hoy, comienzo una de varias publicaciones que tratan sobre cómo adaptar algunos espacios en el hogar a la situación y la vida de hoy. Son los espacios que tenemos disponibles para confinamiento en el hogar. De esta manera, el lugar donde vivimos, además de nuestro hogar, se convierte en una oficina de trabajo, un lugar para tele-clases (escuela a distancia) para los niños, guarderías para los más pequeños e incluso mini gimnasios. En otras palabras, un lugar que llamo un hogar multifuncional.

Me pregunto si será así en el futuro ... teletrabajo, teleestudio, tele todo. Esto puede ser un "cambio copernicano", toda una revolución que indudablemente ya estamos viviendo para satisfacción de algunos o para la miseria de otros. En resumen, debemos prepararnos en caso de que sea a largo plazo. Ahora descubrimos que tenemos que hacer muchas de las actividades de nuestras vidas a distancia. Una de esas actividades es trabajar desde casa.

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En el caso del espacio de trabajo, a veces es más difícil para los adultos que para los jóvenes o los niños. Les digo que para ellos es mucho más fácil, ya que pueden aislarse y llevar a cabo sus clases o comunicarse con el maestro en una esquina de sus habitaciones donde se encuentran sus escritorios.Para los adultos al contrario, se necesita algo más. Me refiero a un espacio apropiado a las circunstancias aprovechando cualquier rincón disponible. De tal manera deberá usarse ese rincón de la sala de estar, el comedor,  el dormitorio o tal vez la misma cocina.

Podríamos considerar un lugar que nos aísle y al mismo tiempo en el que tengamos el control de nuestra familia si somos padres.

 En el caso de ser padres, aislarnos a nosotros mismos no es muy fácil y es muy importante no ser interrumpido. Las conversaciones de los demás, los gritos de los niños o el ruido no nos permiten concentrarnos y pueden causarnos estrés. Además, de la tranquilidad que se necesita, también debemos estar bien conectados y no perder de vista a nuestros hijos, ya que están bajo nuestra supervisión, especialmente si son muy pequeños.

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 En resumen, es algo difícil aislarse teniendo a la familia al lado. Este es el caso de muchas madres jóvenes. Por lo tanto, no solo debe tener el espacio de trabajo, sino también el momento adecuado para hacerlo.



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Afortunadamente, este no es mi caso, ya que mis hijos son mayores ahora. Sin embargo, también tengo mi rincón; Es un espacio pequeño que he adaptado en mi cocina. Por cierto, este es uno de mis lugares favoritos.





Otros factores a tener en cuenta son la luz, la ventilación y la organización; aspectos que aseguran un tipo de comodidad no solo física sino también mental. Además, hay muebles que deberían ser lo más funcionales posible. Esto puede tener diferentes usos, mesa de comedor, auxiliar y, por supuesto, muebles de trabajo. Además, vale la pena mencionar una buena silla o sillón en el que podemos sentarnos durante varias horas.

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Es una expresión común escuchar que las personas pueden tener glúteos planos al estar sentadas por mucho tiempo. Por lo tanto,  las sillas deben ser apropiadas para nuestra espalda, glúteos, piernas y cuello. Muchas horas de sesión puede causar dolor en las caderas y las piernas. Afectar nuestra columna, cuello y cabeza. En resumen puede ser perjudicial para nuestra salud. De tal forma, no te olvides de tomar ciertos descansos para beber un té o una taza de delicioso café. ¿Y por qué no ayudar a nuestros hijos con la tarea o jugar con los más pequeños? Al final, lo que importa es crear un entorno lo más agradable posible para que podamos adaptarnos lo mejor posible a esta situación un tanto kafkiana;  diferente y al mismo tiempo absurda de un confinamiento total o parcial  en el que está involucrado todo el planeta.

 

Home Office / Work Corners

Versatile spaces for our confinement days appropriate to tele-tele

Today, I start one of several posts that deal with how to adapt some spaces in the home to the situation and life of today. They are the spaces that we have available for home confinement. In this way, the place where we live, in addition to our home, becomes a work office, a place for tele-classes (distance school) for the children, nurseries for the little ones and even mini gyms. In other words, a place that I call a multifunctional home.

I wonder if it will be like that in the future ... tele work, tele study, tele everything. This may be a "Copernican change", a whole revolution that we are undoubtedly already living to the satisfaction of some or to the misery of others. In short, we must prepare ourselves in case it becomes long-term. In this way, we now find that we have to do many of the activities of our lives at a distance. One of those activities is work from home. In the case of the workspace it is sometimes more difficult for adults themselves than for young people or children. I say that for them it is much easier, since they can isolate themselves and carry out their classes or communicate with the teacher in a corner of their bedrooms where their desks are located.

For adults, something much more is needed. I mean a space appropriate to the circumstances taking advantage of any available corner. Use that corner of the living room, dining room, also the bedroom or perhaps the same kitchen. We could consider a place that isolates us and at the same time in which we have control of our family if we are parents.

In the case of being parents isolating ourselves is not very easy, and it is very important not to be interrupted. The covers of others, the cries of children or noise do not allow us to concentrate and can cause stress. In addition, apart from the tranquility that is needed, we also require to be well connected and not lose sight of our children since they are under our supervision, especially if they are very young. In short, it is somewhat difficult to isolate yourself having the family at your side. This is the case for many young mothers. In that instance, you should not only have the workspace, but also the appropriate time to do it.

Fortunately, this is not my case, since my children are older now. However, I also have my corner; it is a small space that I have adapted in my kitchen. This is by the way one of my favorite places.

Other factors to take into account are light, ventilation and organization; aspects that ensure a kind of comfort not only physically but also mentally. In addition, there is the furniture that should be as functional as possible. This can have different uses, dining table, auxiliary and, of course, work furniture. Also, it is worth to mention having a good chair or armchair in which we can sit for several hours.

It is a common expression to hear that people could get flat buttocks from sitting so much. Chairs should be appropriate for our back, legs and neck. This is because many hours of sitting can cause hip and leg pain. Sitting too much can affect our spine, neck and head pain. Hours and hours of being alone in the same position can affect our health. Therefore, do not forget to take certain breaks to have a tea or a cup of delicious coffee. And why not help our children with homework or play with the little ones? In the end, what matters is creating an environment that is as pleasant as possible so that we can adapt as best as possible to this somewhat Kafkaesque situation; which is different and at the same time absurd from a total, partial and necessary confinement in which the entire planet is involved.