his sturdy cylinder-shaped earthenware vase by the artist Jerk Werkmäster is a remarkable piece from Nittsjö, Sweden. Crafted from chamotte (grog) earthenware, the vase features a tactile, glossy, grainy dark mustard-brown glaze with a subtle spiral pattern. Its design includes a smaller hole at the opening, adding to its unique aesthetic.
Stamped on the bottom with 'NITTSJÖ SWEDEN 2661-NI - HAND MADE IN SWEDEN'.
Creator:
Nittsjo Keramik (Manufacturer)
Jerk Werkmaster, Nittsjo (Designer)
Dimensions: Height: 7.09 in (18 cm), Diameter: 5.12 in (13 cm)
Materials and Techniques: Earthenware, Glazed, Hand-Crafted
Place of Origin: Sweden
Period: 1960-1969
Date of Manufacture: 1960s
Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. There are a few very small foot chips at the bottom of the vase. These are not visible when standing. See pictures.
ABOUT JERK WERKMÄSTER
Erik Jerk Werkmäster (1896-1978) was a Swedish artist, graphic artist, and craftsman known for his work in painting, woodcuts, and ceramics. Born in Utanåker, Rättvik, Werkmäster studied at Mora Folkhögskola, the Higher Art School in Stockholm, and the Art Academy. He traveled to Berlin and Munich on a scholarship, where he began assisting with the decoration of the Gothenburg Exhibition in 1923, later taking over the project.
Werkmäster served as the artistic director for numerous exhibitions, including the Öresund Exhibition (1930), the Swedish sections at the Helsinki (1938) and Liège (1939) Exhibitions, and several others. He also led the Nittsjö ceramic factory in Rättvik from 1933 to 1967 and designed for Arvid Böhlmark's Lampfabrik.
His decorative style blended naive elements of old valley paintings with a modern, sober color palette and oriental influences. Werkmäster created altarpieces for various churches and executed significant decorative works, including those at the Carlander Hospital, M/S Kungsholm, Grand Hotel in Falun, Eltham Palace, and the Technical Museum in Stockholm.
Werkmäster's works are held in several prominent museums, including the National Museum, the Modern Museum in Stockholm, and the Röhsska Museum. The Dalarnas Museum in Falun also hosts a large collection of his works, showcased in a retrospective exhibition in 1977.