The History of Hjorth's Factory
Hjorth's Factory was founded in 1859 in Ronne on Bornholm (Danish island in the Baltic Sea). In those days the name was L. Hjorths Terrac
The History of Hjorth's Factory
Hjorth's Factory was founded in 1859 in Ronne on Bornholm (Danish island in the Baltic Sea). In those days the name was L. Hjorths Terracotta Factory.
Lauritz Hjorth (LH) was an educated potter from The Faience factory of Edvard Chr. Sonne in Roenne. After serving his apprenticeship, he travelled to France, Germany and The Czech Republic acquiring new skills at the same time as enjoying and absorbing art and culture. The journey lasted for three years after which he startet the factory in his parents house in Ronne.
In the beginning the production consisted of flowerpots, matchholders and watercoolers. Business was so good, that the factory already in 1862 could move to the present location in Krystalgade. By now production consisted entirely of decorative items, in a time when such factories usually only produced kitchen utensils for kitchen-use.
By 1865 Hjorth's employed 10 people, among those the later famous poet Holger Drachmann. Before long the factory had to expand into the nabouring building. It was a great business copying ancient Greek vases and Danish antiquities.
Black terracotta (coal was fired in the ovens simultaneously with the items) was made from 1880. The factory had great success internationally, and already by 1880 Hjorth's articles were sold in the big department stores of Paris, London and Berlin, and as far away as in Australia, New York and Sct. Thomas. The factory also participated in the big World Exhibitions in Alto