Mariane Andersen, born Andersdatter, was the last manufacturer of Jydepotter in Gammelstrup, and thus the last practitioner of a centuries-old art and craft.
Life
Andersen was born in 1824 and died in 1903, both in Gammelstrup town, where she also lived all her life.
In the 1860 census, her occupation is listed as a manufacturer of pots. Although her primary position was as a housewife, it indicates a certain amount of manufacturing was still going on in 1860.
In 1852 she married the later parish bailiff Ole Andersen, with whom she had several children.
In 1894, at the request of Viborg Museum, she made one last firing of Jutland pots that were sold to the museum. For this occasion, she made one of all the types of Jutland pots she could and decorated them. You can see how many different types there were, from typical tripod pots, to candlesticks, maternity baskets and apple slice pans. Each decorated with intricate and varied patterns depending on the type. On some you can see crosses cut into the bottom, perhaps to protect them during firing.
Jutland pots in Gammelstrup
Jydepots are black-fired, unglazed earthenware objects shaped by hand without a potter’s wheel. Burned in a low-oxygen firing, typically using hot peat as fuel.
The actual production of Jutland pots as a particular tradition is in the period 1500-1880.
Although the name is Jydepotter, the term covers all types of pottery made in this tradition.
The production of Jydepots could be found outside the market towns as they were exempt from the market towns’ craft privilege.
The area around Gammelstrup was a center for the production of Jutland pots as conditions were good. The pottery was sent to Kvols from where it was sent by boat to be sold in a large area.
Sources
- Census and church records from Gammelstrup parish
- Fjends egnshistoriske forening – 1997-2022 Anniversary book p. 29-30
- Guldberg, Mette, Pottebønder og bondeskippere -, Bol og By: Landbohistorisk Tidsskrift (1998)