Down here you’ll find our exhibition of local potters, 20th century pottery and contemporary ceramic art.
The room is named after Åke Holm, the most legendary potter in Höganäs. He worked here for more than 50 years and was one of the museum’s biggest benefactors, with a strong commitment, sales of commercial art and large donations.
The museum was founded in 1924, based on an idea from the artist Albin Hamberg, and opened in November 1925.
The collection spans from 19th century yellow utility pottery and salt glazed to post-war industrial art and contemporary expressions. The collection grows through acquisitions, donations and gifts.
Pottery brothers; Åke, Patrick and Jais
Åke Holm (1900–1980) was a curious potter with works ranging from souvenir trolls to abstract art. He’s mainly known for his sculptures with biblical themes, a constant source of inspiration. He also made Asian inspired crockery and idiosyncratic terracotta figurines.
There are numerous tall tales about the excentric Åke Holm and his pottery wasn’t always for sale. It’s said that the best pieces were hidden.
Patrick Nordström (1870–1929) is known at the Father of Crockery. He grew up close to the clay and the Höganäs company. Trained as a carver and stucco pointer, he discovered crockery, “the art of fire”, at the Paris exhibition in 1900. He opened workshops in Copenhagen, worked at Royal Copenhagen 1912-22 and had his own workshop in Islev until he passed away.
Nordström stayed in contact with the glazers in Höganäs and inspired generations of potters, including Åke Holm.
The Danish artist Jais Nielsen’s (1885–1961) Burgundy colored pottery from Royal Copenhagen was another source of inspiration for Åke Holm.
Masters of glazing and industrial art
The left showcase has works from local potters. Most of them worked at The Höganäs company or Andersson & Johansson. An expansive ceramic culture with a unique character blossomed in Höganäs from the 1940s with the museum as a hub for local potters.
The right showcase holds pottery by some of the great artists at well-known Swedish porcelain factories and workshops, as well as works from Denmark and Norway. The works are from circa 1900 to 1980.
The designer and artist Gunnar Nylund created a new line of factory-made crockery for Rörstrand, an attempt to democratize pottery.
Nylund sold 400 of his works to the museum in 1991. This is a selection.
Contemporary pottery – clay as free art
Ceramic art is an exploration of material, form and glazing. Potters seek to express or challenge the present. Objects are adventures and poetry. It’s not massproduced pottery, but unique works of art and innovate handicraft.
Contemporary pottery has a home at KKAM Museum. In this room you’ll find works by leading potters, mainly working in or around Höganäs, including works from Denmark. Many works in the collection have been part of earlier exhibitions.
Sculptural pottery and ceramic nature
The pottery art of The Höganäs company was born at the turn of the last century. The inspiration came from abroad, but the special Art Noveau look was local, created by potter Albin Hamberg. Artists Helmer Osslund and Ottilia Adelborg also contributed to the imaginative style influenced by nature.
Astrid Liljenberg-Sieurin and Maria Kardell created a flowery, decorative style. Starting in 1915 Edgar Böckman, the last designer at The Höganäs company, developed Vackrare vardagsvara (Beautiful everyday object), handpainted pottery for use at home, as well as salt glazed crockery and lustreware.
We also display a small part of the museum’s collection of 16th to 19th century German drinking steins, a donation from Karl and Märta Adolphsson.
The photograph shows The Höganäs company’s showroom in 1897 with works by the Danish sculptor Ferdinand Ring.
