Mid century modern vintage 1960s Cathrineholm Norway Lotus enamelware small bowl. Norwegian design offered here in primary yellow the pattern designed by Arne Clausen and shape designed by Grete Prutz KittelsenThe Cathrineholm company was located in Norway from roughly 1907 – 1970, and the Lotus pattern was produced during the mid to late 1960s. The forms and colors of the lotus line were created by one of Cathrineholm’s most famous in-house designers, Grete Prytz Kittelsen. Kittelsen was a huge influence on Scandinavian design throughout the sixties, and won many prizes for her work with enamel, gold, and other metals. She was known for her use of bold colors, minimal designs, and ultra simple, clean lines.Though Kittelsen is often credited for the lotus pattern, it was actually another Cathrineholm employee, Arne Clausen, who designed the beloved pattern itself. In fact, Kittelsen was rumored to not like the pattern at all. She preferred dishes and plates in one color without distraction. Rumor also has it that Kittelsen’s pieces were distributed to a test market of Norwegian house wives in Halden in a variety of patterns and that the lotus pattern was favored by a landslide. Apparently, the dishes were then put into production adorned with Clausen’s lotus pattern without Kittelsen’s full approval.During its relatively short production run during the 1960s, the Lotus line came in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Pieces included plates, bowls, coffee pots, kettles, canisters, spice jars, salt and pepper shakers, and cookware. A few of the pieces (kitchen canisters and spice jars) were outsourced to Japan for production instead of being made at the Cathrineholm plant in Norway. These pieces are a bit harder to find, and can sometimes be found with the original ‘Made in Japan’ foil label still attached. Lotus was very popular in Denmark and the Danish porcelain manufacturer Lyngby got a license to use the lotus pattern on its porcelain ware in the early 1970s. It is through this Danish connection that in 2013 the Danish company Lucie Kaas signed a license deal with the heirs of Arne Clausen to reproduce Lotus in an extensive ceramic line which is boldly called the Arne Clausen collection! The Lotus series contains some of the most recognizable pieces of midcentury kitchenware, and certainly the most famous pieces to come out of the Cathrineholm factory. These items are true vintage Cathrineholm pieces.

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