About Holmegaard Glasværk: Jacob E. Bang
Holmegaard is considered by many to be the mother factory for all Danish glassworks. And it is not difficult to understand. Firstly, Holmegaard is among the oldest glassworks in Denmark. Secondly, Holmegaard has over time produced countless popular glass series in collaboration with a large number of renowned designers. One of the earliest designers was Jacob E. Bang.
Bang was born in Frederiksberg in 1899. Although he was originally trained as an architect, Holmegaard employed him in 1925 as a draftsman. In the years that followed, Bang switched permanently to designing applied art, and in 1928 he was given the position of artistic director of Holmegaard Glasværk.
As one of the only Danish glass designers, Bang has won international recognition and several awards at world exhibitions in both Barcelona, Brussels, Paris and New York. Many perceive him as a pioneer of functionalism in Danish glass design, and Bang's mantra "beautiful, strong, appropriate and cheap" is today widely known by those who are interested in glass. Bang was also the originator of the words that in the 1920s and 1930s emphasized the vision of Holmegaard Glasværk: "Every Dane should be privileged to have a Holmegaard glass".
Although Jacob E. Bang was primarily an industrial designer, he also helped establish Holmegaard Glasværk as a design company. Distinct art designs characterized Bang's work as both a draftsman and artistic director, and this is particularly evident in glass series such as Opaline and Viol.
Characteristic of both series is that the parts, despite the fact that they combine beautiful design and high functionality, can actually also primarily be regarded as aesthetic objects. In other words, you don't need to fill the glasses with water, wine or flowers to enjoy the series. With very good reason, Jacob E. Bang's works have long been style icons for many designers and collectors' items for a large part of the world's glass lovers.
Bang was born in Frederiksberg in 1899. Although he was originally trained as an architect, Holmegaard employed him in 1925 as a draftsman. In the years that followed, Bang switched permanently to designing applied art, and in 1928 he was given the position of artistic director of Holmegaard Glasværk.
As one of the only Danish glass designers, Bang has won international recognition and several awards at world exhibitions in both Barcelona, Brussels, Paris and New York. Many perceive him as a pioneer of functionalism in Danish glass design, and Bang's mantra "beautiful, strong, appropriate and cheap" is today widely known by those who are interested in glass. Bang was also the originator of the words that in the 1920s and 1930s emphasized the vision of Holmegaard Glasværk: "Every Dane should be privileged to have a Holmegaard glass".
Although Jacob E. Bang was primarily an industrial designer, he also helped establish Holmegaard Glasværk as a design company. Distinct art designs characterized Bang's work as both a draftsman and artistic director, and this is particularly evident in glass series such as Opaline and Viol.
Characteristic of both series is that the parts, despite the fact that they combine beautiful design and high functionality, can actually also primarily be regarded as aesthetic objects. In other words, you don't need to fill the glasses with water, wine or flowers to enjoy the series. With very good reason, Jacob E. Bang's works have long been style icons for many designers and collectors' items for a large part of the world's glass lovers.