The Alchemy of Glass
Alluring curves and billowing lines in harmonious colours meet the eyes when you explore the glass collection from the Holmegaard glassworks that can right now be experienced at our Online Auctions. The characteristic, fascinating shapes of the Holmegaard glasses are the result of one man's creative talent and dedication in particular: Per Lütken – who can best be described as the Poul Henningsen of Danish glass design.
An Artistic DynamoThe Holmegaard glassworks was for several decades a creative meeting place for Denmark's leading glass artists, and the company managed, despite changing trends, to maintain a strong design profile. Not least thanks to the artistic dynamo Per Lütken, who from 1942 until his death in 1998 created the design for the glassworks. Per Lütken graduated from the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen in 1938, where he sharpened his natural talent for design. Already at the age of 26, he took charge of the glassworks following Holmegaard's longtime general manager Jacob E. Bang. During Lütken's first year, the young creative talent designed many of the drinking glasses, vases and bowls that the experienced glassblowers then brought into being. |
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Inspirational Processes, New Techniques and Successful Experiments
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In the following years, Lütken continued his energetic work of inspiring his colleagues, outlining new designs and pushing the limits of the plasticity in the liquid glass material. He did not himself master the art of blowing glass and therefore also had the deepest respect for the technical ability of the glassblowers as well as the hard physical work that this process required. In the 1950s and 60s, the glassworks expanded significantly, and new methods were invented in glassblowing. The famous “Provence Bowl” is the result of one of the period's many successful experiments: the vacuum technique. The glass mass was placed on a hot plate that, in accordance with the laws of physics, inflated the bowl by itself. This laid the groundwork for several successful experiments and the development of the delicate, rounded shapes that Lütken was very focused on adding to especially the glasswork's drinking glasses. |
The Balance Between Elegance and Usability
In addition to the unique art glasses, Holmegaard also managed to develop more robust glasses for daily use. One of the absolute biggest commercial successes was the well-known ship glasses, which were introduced in 1971. They struck a balance between elegance and usability. It was a design philosophy that the regular consumer could identify with, and the success of the glasses helped to cushion the bottom line for the glassworks for many years after.
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Lütken was in many ways the equivalent of Poul Henningsen when it came to Danish glass design. His eye for design and creativity meant that one could invite other artists into the glassworks and maintain the innovative focus that had characterized the work since the beginning in 1825. Holmegaard, however, eventually went bankrupt in 2008 despite its many years of success. Today, Holmegaard, with support from Realdania, has been given a new lease of life as a museum and contains a collection of more than 40,000 glasses. |
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Collected with A Passion for Glass Design
The glass collection that is now up for auction, is the result of a Danish collector's long-lasting passion for the productive range and creativity synonymous with Holmegaard. Most of the glasses are designed by Per Lütken, but the collection also includes Siegfried Wagner's beautiful, rare Barbary sheep figure, which with its elegant organic shapes and delicate blue-green colour is one of the glassworks' masterpieces. You can also enjoy a wide range of design gems by Allan Scharff, Torben Jørgensen, Peter Svarrer, Jacob E. Bang and other designers from Holmegaard's heyday. With their individual expressions and an impressive diversity, the collection itself illustrates Per Lütken's fitting motto: "Glass is life!"
For further information, please contact:
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Esben Skov JensenEsben Skov JensenSpecialist / Aarhus |