Fris (N.V. Keramik Industrie Fris) Edam

Designer	Willem Hendrik DeVries
Maker	NV Ceramic Industry Fresh
Marks	Stamped “Made in Holland Fris Edam” to base
Material	Porcelain
Description	Press moulded straight-sided bowl angling outwards to top.  Bottom half with vertical fluting. Short curved handle angled upwards from fixing at center of bowl. Grey gloss glazed interior with single varied colour to exterior.
Condition	Very good for age, slight chip to footring of one bowl with slight discolouring to interior.
Number
Production Date	Late 1960s
Width at rim	117mm
Width at Base	85mm
Depth	60mm
Length (with handle)	143mm
Weight	180gm
Volume	370ml
Acquisition	Salvo Store, Noble Park, Victoria
Rameking Reference Number	FRI 001-004

Designer	Willem Hendrik DeVries
Maker	NV Ceramic Industry Fresh
Marks	Stamped “Made in Holland Fris Edam” to base
Material	Porcelain
Description	Press moulded straight-sided bowl angling outwards to top.  Short flat curved handle angled upwards from fixing at center of bowl. Off-white gloss glazed interior with single varied matt colour to exterior.
Condition	Very good for age, slight discolouring to interior.
Number	No number
Production Date	Late 1960s
Width at rim	110mm
Width at Base	65mm
Depth	55mm
Length (with handle)	152mm
Weight	195gm
Volume	375ml
Acquisition	Salvo Store, Noble Park, Victoria
Rameking Reference Number	FRI 005-011

At the height of the Second World War, Gerrit Fris and his son, also named Gerrit began the “NV Art Pottery” Like many others before and since with no experience in ceramics, they bought in the talent.   They hired Willem Hendrik De Vries as their “Aesthetic Consultant”.   He remained with them until 1967.  From 1938 to 1968 he was teaching ceramics at the Institute of Applied Art in Amsterdam and joined NV Ceramic Industry in 1943, then located in Gouda.

They moved from Gouda to Edam in 1947 because of the post-war labour shortage in Gouda to premises formerly occupied by the staff canteen of the Fokker aircraft factory in Holland.  With the help of government grants and a pool of unemployed fishermen caused by the damming of the Zuider Zee, they opened a new works there on the 3^rd of January 1947.  In 1951, demand exceeded supply.

From 1946 to 1969 Willem de Vries held the post of Director in design, which from 1947 was located in Edam, and with his talent, the pottery soon became a leading maker.  Other designers were Nel Bruynzeel, Dick Gerrits, Hannie Terpstra, Emile Truyen, Jan Lucassen and Floris Meydam as his deputy.  They made dinnerware and vases inspired by the Bauhaus with an emphasis on utility, quality and design; colour was important.  De Vries continued teaching during his time with Fris.

These ramekins are typical of his design influence and although missing the underplates, they hark back to the tea sets that were their first products in 1947.   The NV Ceramic Industry Fresh existed from 1947 to 1969.  Part of their design philosophy was that decoration was impractical and detracted from the design, diverting attention from the form.  They are a form of “Missing Link” with fluting making an appearance before the disappearance of the handle.

Pride of place had traditionally been the china cabinet.  Rows of plates, bowls and jugs stood proudly on shelves in dressers in most Dutch homes.  This trend tapered off as tastes changed in the sixties and as a result, ceramics production and sales in The Netherlands fell to only a fraction of that of the industry at its height.  If you see their dishes displayed at home then it is understandable that the utilitarian lack of decoration of Fris is not an asset.

Their stylish and balanced pottery is little known outside the Netherlands but is now collectable and some of their work is expensive.  By 1969, the company was bankrupt and was taken over by the Triangle Pottery.  Triangle changed its name in 1970 to “The Pottery House” and moved production to Lelystadt in 1988 where it continues as “New Land Pottery.”