(Earthenware) ceramics

(Earthenware) ceramics

The potters of Arvika have worked almost exclusivly with earthenware clay, which red clay holds a warm tone which can be experienced as connected to a rustic, comforting and "earthen" expresison. Today most buy their clay from retailers, but there's also been projects relating to rediscovering the clay in the landscape, of which this region is rich, and to "explore the conditions for producing utility and art ceramics of good technical quality from local clay", what is what the region has been good at before. Part of the project was also expreimenting with glazes that would with the clay.

varmlandmap

iain

Swedish

Intangible

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(Lergods)keramik

02/09/2025

https://www.hemslojd.se/det-leriga-experimentet/ https://visitvarmland.com/arvika/kultur-historia/museum/krukmakerimuseet-pa-ovre-stortorpet

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https://culturality.museum/wiki/index.php/(Earthenware)_ceramics

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The area where Thenman grew up and lives has been traditionally and culturally connected to ceramics for several generations. There is a strong cultural connection to ceramic objects. There's also a connection to folkmusic, as many potters in the region have also been folk musicans, which has affected the music of the area since the ceramisist have been traveling to visit and work in different studios and have learnt folk music and have spread songs.

Ulrika Jäger, Sara Olsson

Thorough understanding of the mechanics and nature of clay, kilns, tools, glazes, chemistry (either from learning by doing or with understanding the theory too), as well as artistic skills.

The potters usually have very long, solid and specific knowledge and skills which they've gathered from education, courses and from learning by doing and learning together.

There's nine potters in Arvika Konsthantverk today, with two living outside the region. There's been prominent men and women as practicioners. Compared to earlier potters in the area, the potters today work more individually, whereas before it was more of a team effort, but they are joint in the co-op.

Edane, Arvika, has a long tradition as an area with a strong tradition of practicing ceramists. Arvika konsthantverkare, of which Kristine Thenman is a member, has existed for over 100 years. It's a pride of the area.

The culture of pottery making comes from the fact that there's a clay vein in the area, so the history of potters there goes back a long time. There's been families that have learnt in tradition, nowadays it's taught in

Rackstadmuseet and Kyrkerud folk high school (south west of this area) where it's possible to learn pottery.

Several artisan workshops in the area as well as old pottery studios such as the Pottery museum at Övre stortorpet.

Industrial production,Surge of new technologies,Use of modern materials

There could be argued that these are threats due to mass production of cheaper products, as well as there might be machines that can do similar products. Still the public seem to want craft as a complement industry products.

Aged practitioners,Diminishing youth interest,Reduced practice

The practitioners are getting older and there's a reduced practice. If there's a diminishing youth interest is harder to tell.

Insufficient renumeration,Increased income disparity,Arduous training

It's difficult for the unknowing potential customer to understand the work and knowledge behind the artisans artefacts. Since it's a matter of applied arts, it's also competing with cheaper production of similar items, also due to increased income disparity. Getting to the knowledge needed to make these types of artefacts also requiers a long training.

Threatening regional planning policies

Not a regional planning question, but rather on a national level, there's a lack of politics to support the area.

Edane is a locality in Arvika municiplaity, in region Värmland, Sweden, with about 700 inhabitants. It's situated by the northen shore of lake Värmlen and also is part of the area of the clay vein in western Värmland. In the area around Arvika and Edane, several potters have lived and worked. In the late 1800's, there's was an artist colony establised in the area, and the local Arvika konsthantverk, a co-operative for applied arts and crafters, was established. At most during that time about a dozen potery studios were running. The municipality of Arvika is to this day seen as a stonghold of culture in Värmland. Arvika is a municipality of 25 000, with about 15 inhabitants/km2. The largest employer in Edane is smaller industries.

Ceramic utensils, applied arts, (plates, bowls, mugs, etc.). Everyday objects needed in a home: bowls and dishes for food and storage, jugs for drinks, candlesticks, pots for storage, for plants. Art of decorating public spaces and the home.

Clay is bought from other countries, and it could be made with local clay since the local material is plentiful and has high quality. The glazes can have large enviormental footprints. The kilns in the area are both wood fired and electrical. Thenman and Stuart Beck expresses in an interview that they would like to se a more sustainable production that in a natural way connects with the local tradition.

Difficult to make a living just being a potter. Thenman and Stuart Beck has expressed that it's also irrational to think that it would be economical to make and sell the earthenware clay artefacts that are from the area (from the work that goes into the whole process)

Sustainable Cities and Communities,Responsible Consumption and Production

Edane, Arvika, Sweden

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