Ursula Munch-Petersen

Ursula Munch-Petersen is considered one of Danish ceramics’ greatest innovators and was in that sense ahead of her time, and her ceramics are now displayed in museums all over the world – including the renowned Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Ursula Munch-Petersen’s way of working is characterised by her constantly experimenting and asking questions about the things we surround ourselves with. The things we normally take for granted are the things she likes to develop, improve and make more beautiful.

Her production includes both sculpturally shaped one-of-a-kind pieces and series-produced industrial design, whose functional and visual qualities are based on her thorough craftsmanship and artistic approach. Perhaps the most innovative and iconic example is the Ursula series from 1991, which is still very modern today. The series was created for Royal Copenhagen and was produced by Kähler from 2014.

With the Ursula tableware, Ursula Munch-Petersen wanted to rediscover the joy of colour in Danish table setting design. From the outset, the Ursula design’s core idea was to break away from the shame and colour anonymity that dominant standard day-to-day tableware at the time, and instead give it a new, intuitive look – an idea and look that couldn't be more on trend today.

With the tableware's striking yellow, blue and green pieces, Ursula Munch-Petersen had an innovative palette taken from the archive of handmade design traditions, where the series’ clear handles and almost caricature spouts were used to accentuate the functions of the series' jugs and cups and playing to the current love of organic shapes and colours. She managed to create a colourful harmony between all the individual parts, whether on the table or on display.

The constant basic oval shape of the plates and bowls is a clear demonstration of how Ursula Munch-Petersen’s design can add strength and an extra dimension. And since then, the oval plates and jug with the pointed spout have been given a natural and well-deserved place in Danish design legacy - and on the dining table.