Adco pottery
dal 20/6/2003 al 1/2/2004
Segnalato da
20/6/2003
Adco pottery
Groninger Museum, Groningen
A selection of ADCO vases and jugs with their characteristic colours and shapes. A large part of the exhibition consists of items on loan. Much attention is devoted to photographs, drawings, and information on the production and the models used.
The Groninger Museum will present an exhibition of ADCO Pottery in the Ovaal West gallery from 21 June 2003 to 1 February 2004. ADCO pottery originated after the take-over of a small pottery along the Winschoterdiep waterway by the Groninger Steenfabriek (Groningen Brickworks) in the 1920s.
In the period 1920-1950, almost every household in the Netherlands had the erstwhile modern ADCO pottery. It fitted ideally into interiors with Art Deco influences. In the 1930s, Art Deco formed an innovative style in which the building industry and applied art both evolved their own specific character. In the Netherlands, the Amsterdam School of architecture was an example of Art Deco.
In 1919, the brothers Limborgh Meyer took over a small pottery and moved it to their brickworks. After some time, the name Groninger Steenfabriek was changed to ADCO Pottery, called after Ada and Coco, the two daughters of G.C. Limborgh, the managing director.
Initially, the factory turned out rather coarse pottery but a gradual change took place, with the emphasis coming to lie on more luxurious products such as vases, jugs, and flowerpots, which reaped much success. Skilled ceramic workers were attracted from Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary to boost both the technical and the artistic aspects of the assortment. By partly mechanising production and by setting up a good sales network, ADCO was able to market large quantities of modern ceramics at low prices.
New models were developed in the 1950s, and the company enjoyed a fresh period of success. However, marketing problems began to appear in the 1960s with the advent of national and international competition. In 1976, after co-operation with and a take over by Porseleyne Fles of Delft, bankruptcy turned out to be unavoidable, bringing an end to ADCO production.
The Groninger Museum now presents a selection of ADCO vases and jugs with their characteristic colours and shapes. A large part of the exhibition consists of items on loan. Much attention is devoted to photographs, drawings, and information on the production and the models used. The ADCO exhibition confronts the viewer with genuine Groningen design, which could be found in all households. These objects are certainly worth examination in a modern context.
Curator: Egge Knol
Hours of opening: Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays, 10.00-17.00.
Also open on Monday afternoons in the months of July and August.
Groninger Museum
Museumeiland 1, Groningen
tel 0503666555