“Dania” produced pottery in Skive from 1942, when Jens Martin Skov, Jebjerg, Salling set up a pottery factory in the former margarine factory “Dania ” (hence the name of the pottery factory) on the corner of Engvej and Jernbanegade (now Viborgvej) in Skive. Production moved to Sorring in 1952.
Early history
Jens Martin Skov was an enterprising man – farm owner, parish council chairman, fruit grower and not least peat and brown coal manufacturer. In 1945, together with two partners, he took over the manor Østergaard in Åsted, which he became sole owner of in 1954.
During the war, it was difficult to obtain tinware, so there was a basis for the production of pottery and Skov was able to obtain fuel from Bredmose Tørvefabrik v. Højslev, lignite from Søby near Herning and clay from Højslev Teglværk.
Skov hired Ejlert Rosenkrands Olsen, a 22-year-old trained potter, as operations manager. He had trained as a potter in Holbæk and had been foreman at a factory in Middelfart.
The production
Production was organized according to modern industrial methods.
24. in May 1943, the first firing at the factory took place and in the fall there was a tour for the local press. The newspapers did not hide their enthusiasm: “A fairy tale about the country’s 3rd largest clay factory, located in Skive. The new and enterprising industry….There are not many linen factories that have such a fine technical apparatus as “Dania” was the headline in Skive Venstreblad.
Ejlert R. Olsen was the general manager, foreman, was responsible for sales of the production, he designed the products himself and made the plaster molds that were used in series production. They still kept the old pottery craft going, but most of the production was mechanical mass production.
Growth
In 1943, there were 22 employees at the factory, which became a great success. Within 5 years, the staff tripled in size.
the mold for the Medova teapot.
The products were sold throughout the country and there were also exports, e.g. to Norway, for example. In 1944, the factory budded when the production of plaster molds was separated from Dania and “Skive Formegipseri” was established.
In 1947, Dania became a limited company with founder Jens Martin Skov and Ejlert R Olsen, now director, on the board.
Ejlert R. Olsen won a competition to create a drip-free teapot – the MEDOVA teapot – and Dania was awarded production of the pot.
Relocation to Sorring
When import restrictions were lifted after World War II, imports of glass, porcelain and cheap earthenware from Eastern Europe started up again, and plastic came from the USA. Earthenware began to be squeezed out of the market.
In 1952, production of the Medova teapot was also moved to Sorring, where Dania had bought the Østjyden earthenware factory. The buildings in Skive were sold. Ejnar Jensen, who had been foreman at Dania, was appointed manager of DANIA – now in Sorring. Ejlert R. Olsen continued to supervise the company and made weekly visits.
In 1960, Kathrine and Ejnar Jensen took over the company, which they closed in 1992.
Aftermath – people and buildings
The young potter Ejlert R. Olsen did not leave Skive, but got a job first at Gyro for a year, then with Poul Møller at Skivehus Kork- og Asfaltfabrik, where he helped start production of cork plates in Jegstrup. In 1958 he started the company Dantherm.
The beautiful building was taken over by A/S GYRO Skive Jernstøberi og Maskinfabrik. In 1953, a new large warehouse was built on the site. In 1972, GYRO sold the buildings to A/S K. Dahl Pedersen, who had a Volvo car dealership on the opposite side of Viborgvej.
In 1973, the original factory building from 1912 was demolished to make way for a modern exhibition building. What remained was the director’s residence on Viborgvej and the building along Engvej. From the mid-80s, Frits Dahl biler – Toyota operated a car dealership and workshop from the address. The director’s residence was demolished in the mid-nineties.
Sources
- Skive-egnens jul 2012. Two 100 year anniversaries on Viborgvej by Niels Mortensen p. 54 – 55
- “Hvor Ler får “Liv”, Aarbogen 1948, Skive by og borgere i fortid og fremtid p. 8-9
- Local history archive for former Gjern municipality, B1447
- Clean air for people – Dantherm 1958 – 2008 p. 9 – 12