Gerd Bøgelund Unique Bottle Moon Jar

A sensationally satisfying unique ball vase or bottle moon jar designed and made by Gerd Bøgelund at Royal Copenhagen in the 1950’s or 60s.

Bøgelund’s career in ceramics started in 1942 at Royal Copenhagen, whilst she was still a student. Following this, she briefly worked at Saxbo (1943-45) and Søholm (1945-46) before returning to Royal Copenhagen. From 1946 onwards Bøgelund was Artist in Residence at Royal Copenhagen, her work was exhibited widely, and collected by King Gustaf VI of Sweden.

Gustaf VI was a connoisseur of ceramics, particularly Chinese pottery, and it was perhaps Bøgelund’s experimentation with East Asian forms and glazes that attracted him to her work. In addition to expressing herself using East Asian techniques, Bøgelund drew inspiration from nature which also influenced the forms she worked but more evidently manifest in the decorations she applied, which often incorporated incised patterns.

This bulbous vase in our opinion is more greatly motivated by East Asia than nature. The shape, hand-thrown using stoneware clay, and with surprising heft, is reminiscent of a bottle moon jar, a traditional Korean form from the Joseon dynasty, 1392–1910.

The vase’s iridescent deep red glaze is also related to East Asian, being demonstrative of a sang de boeuf / oxblood recipe, which first appearing in Chinese porcelain at the start of the 18th century.