Tenera (1958) from Aluminia and Royal Copenhagen
An Overview of the Tenera Faience Art Pieces (1958–1967)
In 1958, the artistic director Nils Thorsson launched the Tenera collection at Aluminia. It represented a modern renewal of the company's long tradition of faience art pieces.
Nils designed all the forms for the series, while six young Scandinavian designers developed the hand-painted motifs. The decors often feature stylized plants, animals, and figures in a distinctive blue and purple color palette.
New forms and decors were introduced to the Tenera series until 1967. In 1969, the Aluminia brand was officially retired, and Tenera pieces were thereafter produced and sold under the Royal Copenhagen name.
The lower side marks of Tenera
A lot of information can often be derived from the lower sides of a Tenera object.
- The brand (Aluminia before 1969, or Royal Copenhagen after 1969)
- The production years for Royal Copenhagen objects (dot placement above or below letters in Royal Copenhagen)
- Factory quality (etched line over the waves for factory seconds)
- Decor (three-digit number)
- Model (four-digit number)
- Decor designer’s mark
- Painter’s mark
Royal Copenhagen mark, 1974–1978, factory first quality, decor 427, model 3114, decor designer Kari Christensen, and painter’s mark W.
Aluminia mark, factory first quality, decor 441, model 3121, decor designer Grete Helland-Hansen, and painter’s mark B.
Ad poster for the Tenera series
Tenera Models by Nils Thorsson (1898–1975)
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Tenera Decors by Berte Jessen (1937–2024) from Denmark
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Tenera Decors by Beth Breyen (1939–) from Norway
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Tenera Decors by Grete Helland-Hansen (1939–1999) from Norway
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Tenera Decors by Inge-Lise Koefoed (1939–X) from Norway
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Tenera Decors by Kari Christensen (1938–1997) from Norway
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Tenera Decors by Marianne Johnson from Sweden
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