Skansen's Pottery
At the Pottery, handcrafted stoneware is thrown and sold by Skansen’s potters. The work takes place in a workshop with an adjoining shop, where visitors can purchase cups, bowls, spill basins, small vases and other hand-thrown functional pieces in glazed stoneware. The ceramics are fired at high temperatures, resulting in durable and watertight pieces that are safe to use in both dishwashers and microwave ovens.
The craft is shown openly, much as it has been practised since the 19th century. Throwing takes place in the shop, where visitors can follow the work at the wheel, while firing and glazing are carried out in the workshop behind. Today, electric wheels and electric kilns are used, but the working methods and craftsmanship remain fundamentally the same as in the past. Each piece is thrown, trimmed, dried, fired, glazed and fired again, all on site in the historic workshop.
Production year-round
All stoneware sold at Skansen’s pottery is produced entirely at Skansen. After throwing, the clay is left to rest before being trimmed and refined by hand. It is then dried until completely dry. The first firing, known as the bisque firing, is followed by glazing and a second firing at approximately 1240 degrees. Once the pieces have cooled, a quality check is carried out before they are counted, sorted and placed in the shop for sale
The pottery collection
The pottery collection is designed by ceramicist Maria Stengård in collaboration with the Skansen Shop and consists of hand-thrown functional objects in glazed stoneware. Form, function and glaze work together in each piece. All glazes are mixed by hand in the workshop, giving every object subtle variations in colour and surface. These differences are what make each cup, bowl or vase personal. The ceramics are created and sold exclusively at Skansen’s pottery.
About the pottery and the building’s history
The potter’s wheel came to Sweden during the 16th century and contributed to a rise in the pottery profession. Objects could be produced at a higher pace, and pottery developed into a specialised craft within the guild system.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, potters could be found in almost every town in Sweden. Pottery workshops, like glassworks, were fire hazards and were therefore often located on the outskirts of towns. Well-known pottery centres were primarily found in Skåne and Halland, but also in other parts of the country where the soil was suitable for ceramic production.
The building that now houses Skansen’s pottery comes from Lunda in Västra Vingåker parish and was built in the 19th century. It was moved to Skansen in 1948 and has been in operation since the 1930s. In the mid-20th century, the pottery was relocated here to demonstrate different types of urban crafts, as well as to establish ceramic production for sale.
Skansen’s ceramic production has been developing since the spring of 2023 and continues to evolve today. The first items produced were a small bowl, a coffee cup, a breakfast bowl and a small vase. Since then, the range has gradually grown into the collection available today.
Welcome to Skansen’s pottery to experience living craftsmanship, follow the process from clay to finished piece, and learn more about Swedish pottery traditions. Selected pieces from the pottery collection are also available for purchase in Skansen’s online shop.
