Kennemerland, Velsen, Potterie

Eelke Snel's goal was cheap but beautiful pottery, straight, simple models (plain yellow/grey) with line and square decoration (brick pattern) mostly in bright clear primary colours (a free interpretation) of De Stijl. But also green, orange, grey and lilac decorations at Pottery factory Kennemer Pottenbakkerij. In the 1930's decoration developed in the direction of the modern non-figurative art of painting, straight models & decorations. The dutch population calls it Velser Pottery. Mark/backstamp see picture.

Designer Gellings developed a variety of models in the years, elegant vases and even stylized abstract (animal) figures/sculptures. Utilize the artistic possibilities of the casting process.Velsen-pottery had as characteristic an one time baking process and the glaze was applied at the dried not baked yet ceramics, than baked at a low temperature. Consequence less utility purposes because of mixed up colours and bad quality of the pottery.

In 1920/1921 Potterie Kennemerland, 1922/1928 name Kennemer Pottenbakkerij, 1929/1932 name NV Kennemer Potterij, 1933/1935 name Plateel Noord Holland, 1936 name Kunstaardewerkfabriek "Velsen", forced moving of the factory in 1942 to Sassenheim by the occupying forces.Till 2003 produced decorative art pottery, like candlesticks, cabinet vases and contemporary dinnerware, mostly plain coloured. Also Delft ware and multi coloured. Produced pudding yello moulds in the eighties. Designstudio designed contemporary art objects at the end of the eighties.

K. Mertens, C.J. Gellings, W. Stuurman