The Pottery Kennemerland in Velsen-Noord was founded in December 1920 by Koen Mertens (31 years) and Eelke Snel (21 years). From 1922 the company was continued by Eelke Snel. The company has been active under a number of names:
Eelke Quick had begun as a boy making gypsum molds at Amphora pottery factory in Oegstgeest. Then he came to St. Lukas in Utrecht. Then, on May 20, 1920, Eelke Snel, Koen Mertens, Jan van Ham and Cees van Muyen The Four Mushrooms in Utrecht established. This combination was short-lived, in December, Snel and Mertens founded their own pottery: Potterie Kennemerland. The brand from this period is the PK brand with the mirrored P. The often mentioned T is a stylized potter's turntable.
This duo was obviously not a success, because about one year later Mertens left and Eelke Snel went on alone. Eelke quickly wanted to produce a fabulous production, Koen Mertens wanted a small-scale factory where the shapes would be handwritten. Until about 1924, Koen Mertens has occasionally worked in the factory. Quick goal was to deliver cheap and beautiful earthenware. The first designs were from Snels and Mertens hand and are decorated with experimental decors, geometric or band motifs on a creamy or grayish background. From the moment Eelke Snel himself became a business leader, from 1922, the decors were usually simple or experimental. In the later years of Kennemer Pottenbakkerij, more towards 1928/29 the vases and the like were decorated with cubes. This period is characterized by the ever-blue brand KP. Until 1929 the factory was still small, with few employees. From 1929 production was handled in a factory and more workers were employed. From the gold plate industry, some painters also came to Velsen. After attracting the designer Karl Gellings, the simple models were complemented with more artful designs. Another famous designer for the factory was Willem Stuurman. He has designed decors, but also models. Over the years, a wide variety of models appeared, from ornate vases, cans and lid pots to beautifully styled abstract (animal) plastics. This brand is the KP brand in green, gray / black.
Because the factory of the Germans had to move, it was established in Sassenheim in 1942 under the name "Velsen"; Initially, old molds were used, but soon another way was taken. Also see
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