Anne Lofthus
Encyclopedia
Anne Lofthus Valla was a Norwegian ceramic artist and art teacher. Her artistic style was influenced by the folk-culture of rural Norway, in particular the cultural traditions from Telemark
, where she was born and grew up.
in Telemark
, and died in the municipality of Hemnes in Nordland County, Norway. From 1954 to 1957 she was educated as a ceramist at the Norwegian College of Applied Arts in Oslo, with Jens von der Lippe as supervisor. She was employed in von der Lippe's workshop as a ceramist from 1958 to 1959. She married the teacher and farmer Torbjørn Valla in 1967 and moved to Korgen
in the municipality of Hemnes
. There, she continued teaching and also accepted many freelance assignments.
, Norway where she served as a member of the company's artistic staff under the directorship of Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa
. While employed at Stavangerflint, Anne Lofthus created designs for ceramic tableware and items for decoration or special occasions. She also made many souvenir objects for cities and tourist sites in Norway and abroad. Her most famous designs for tableware are Tiril, Vinge and the children's set Du som metter liten fugl (Lord you feed the little bird).
She left Stavangerflint in 1963 and in 1963/64 she continued her education at the National School for Teaching of Woodwork and Drawing in Notodden
, Norway. In subsequent years she worked as a teacher, giving lessons in Arts and Crafts
while continuing to work as a ceramist. Anne Lofthus created the coat of arms
for the Norwegian community of Hemnes
and established her own ceramic workshop at Valla
, Norway where she was active until 1996.
Her style as an artist is usually easily recognizable by her references to Norwegian Folk Art
, such as the décor-objects Stolt Margit and Folklore both of which are based on inspiration from the cultural heritage of the Telemark region.
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
, where she was born and grew up.
Background
Anne Lofthus was born at the Lofthus Farm in the municipality of VinjeVinje
Vinje is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Åmot.-Name:...
in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
, and died in the municipality of Hemnes in Nordland County, Norway. From 1954 to 1957 she was educated as a ceramist at the Norwegian College of Applied Arts in Oslo, with Jens von der Lippe as supervisor. She was employed in von der Lippe's workshop as a ceramist from 1958 to 1959. She married the teacher and farmer Torbjørn Valla in 1967 and moved to Korgen
Korgen
Korgen is the administrative center of Hemnes municipality in Nordland county, Norway.-History:Korgen was a separate municipality in more than 45 years. Korgen was separated from Hemnes and created into a municipality on July 1, 1918. It was merged back together with Hemnes on January 1, 1964...
in the municipality of Hemnes
Hemnes
Hemnes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Korgen.- Municipality history :...
. There, she continued teaching and also accepted many freelance assignments.
Artistic career
From 1959 to 1963 she was engaged as a designer at the Stavangerflint AS earthenware factory in StavangerStavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, Norway where she served as a member of the company's artistic staff under the directorship of Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa
Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa
Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa was a Norwegian ceramic designer.Fjeldsaa was born in Sandnes in the county of Rogaland, Norway. He was educated as a ceramicist at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Oslo 1937–1942 and trained in the workshop of Jens von der Lippe from 1936 to 1946...
. While employed at Stavangerflint, Anne Lofthus created designs for ceramic tableware and items for decoration or special occasions. She also made many souvenir objects for cities and tourist sites in Norway and abroad. Her most famous designs for tableware are Tiril, Vinge and the children's set Du som metter liten fugl (Lord you feed the little bird).
She left Stavangerflint in 1963 and in 1963/64 she continued her education at the National School for Teaching of Woodwork and Drawing in Notodden
Notodden
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Øst-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Notodden....
, Norway. In subsequent years she worked as a teacher, giving lessons in Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" and "the rest"...
while continuing to work as a ceramist. Anne Lofthus created the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
for the Norwegian community of Hemnes
Hemnes
Hemnes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Korgen.- Municipality history :...
and established her own ceramic workshop at Valla
Valla
-People:*Esat Valla, Kosovar Albanian painter* Gerd-Liv Valla, Norwegian trade union leader*Kristin Valla, Norwegian writer and journalist*Kristin Hille Valla, Norwegian politician for the Centre Party...
, Norway where she was active until 1996.
Her style as an artist is usually easily recognizable by her references to Norwegian Folk Art
Folk art
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic....
, such as the décor-objects Stolt Margit and Folklore both of which are based on inspiration from the cultural heritage of the Telemark region.
Other sources
- Gjerde, Jan (2007) Glimt Fra Stavangerflints Historie (Stavanger: Stavangerflint AS) ISBN 978-82-303-0998-8