Madam Blå: Historien bag

For this text about Madam Blå in English, scroll to the bottom.

Denne blå emaljekande, der altid indeholder dampende varm kaffe på sommerbordet i kolonihaven, er et syn alle danskere kender. Kaffekanden Madam Blå er uden tvivl et dansk ikon, man ikke kan komme udenom. Særligt hvis man er loppeentusiast. Derfor er det også passende, at det er lige netop denne blå madamme, der får lov til at starte ballet i vores nye serie: Historien bag. Denne danske design klassiker har faktisk også en noget mere betydningsfuld historie bag sig end de fleste måske tror. Læs med her, hvor vi fortæller om Madam Blå.

Den danske historie

Madam Blå opstod nemlig i en tid hvor det danske samfund gennemgik betydelige ændringer, særligt på arbejdsmarkedet. Vi befinder os sidst i 1800-tallet, og arbejderne er begyndt at samle sig til demonstrationer imod lange arbejdsdage. De forlanger mere fritid. Selvom at det første 1. maj møde blev holdt i 1890, skulle det tage næsten 30 år før at arbejdernes krav bliver sikret ved overenskomst. Det sker i maj 1919.

Arbejdernes drøm om døgnets tredeling bliver altså endelig en realitet efter 30 års kamp. Og imens der var fest i gaden og arbejderne nød deres ekstra velfortjente fritid, fulgte velstanden ikke med. Der var derfor primært kun råd til erstatningskaffe for de fleste. Og erstatningskaffen blev serveret i Madam Blå for venner og familie i de danske kolonihaver.

Madam Blå bliver til

Poul Glud var en blikkenslager fra Vejle. Som person var han iderig, og identificerede at der var et behov for billige varer med lang holdbarhed. Da Vejle blev ham for lille tog han til Tyskland, for at vende tilbage til Danmark og København med endnu flere ideer. I København slog han sig sammen med Troels Marstrand, der var gammel isenkræmmer. De to grundlagde virksomheden Glud og Marstrand i 1879. Så faktisk længe før arbejderne fik deres overenskomst, men stadig i en tid hvor utilfredsheden med arbejdstider voksede. Glud og Marstrand startede med at fremstille metal varer til husholdninger, mejerier og legetøj.

I slutningen af 1800-tallet blev emalje et populært materiale at bruge i køkkenredskaber. Populariteten skyldes primært at emalje var æstetisk at se på, hygiejnisk i brug og samtidig signalerede de blå og hvide farver renhed. Efter århundredeskiftet lancerede Glud og Marstrand deres blå emalje kaffekande – Madam Blå. Madam Blå var originalt tiltænkt som et reklameslogan kun til kaffekanden, men det blev så populært at alt blåt emaljetøj fik tildelt navnet. Den brugbare kaffekande stod på alle husmødres ønskeseddel og blev hurtig en essentiel del af det danske køkken.

I 1930’erne kom der flere farver til, nu var det ikke kun de blå og hvide farver, men også rød og orange. Endnu mere populært blev emaljetøjet fra Madam Blå da en avisreportage meddelte at Kong Frederik og Dronning Ingrid indrettede deres køkken på Jagtgården i Trend med rød emalje.

Produktionen af Madam Blå stopper

I 1966 lukkede man for emaljeproduktionen, som følger af krigstiden, hvor der opstod mangel på råvare. Glud og Marstrand forsatte dog som virksomhed og blev i 2005 opkøbt af det Mexicanske selskab Envases Universales de México. Glud og Marstrand producerer i dag emballage til kød, mejeriprodukter, grønt, småkager, tobak mm.

Mange danskere ejer stadig kaffekander, sæbebøtter og kopper fra madam blå. Noget af det har endda allerede gennemgået minimum et generationsskifte. Glud og Marstrand formåede altså at skabe et langtidsholdbart produkt til en fair pris, der over 100 år efter stadig skaber minder hos danskerne.

Madam Blå findes ofte i Kirppu butikker i hele landet. Vil du starte loppejagten efter en ægte dansk designklassiker der har været med til at definere danskerne i over 100 år, så klik her.

 

English text

This blue enamel coffee pot, always containing steaming hot coffee, is a necessity in all danish vacationhomes. The visual of it on the outdoor coffee table during summer is a picture that all Danes recognize. The coffee pot Madam Blue is without a doubt a danish icon that you can’t avoid during danish summers. Especially if you are fond of thrifting. Therefore, it also seem fitting that this blue madame will open the ball to our new series: the history behind. This Danish design classic also has a significantly important history behind it, even though most people might not know so.

The Danish history

The story of Madame Blue began at a time where the danish society underwent big and important changes, especially in relation to the job market. We are situated in the late 1800s, where the workers are starting to gather for demonstrations against long workhours and unfavorable terms for employees. They simply wanted more time off. Even though the first May 1st meeting was held in 1890 it would take another 30 years before the workers’ demands were secured in an agreement. This happens in May 1919.

The workers’ dream about dividing the day into 8-hour workdays and 16 hours of free time finally became a reality after 30 years of fighting and demonstrating. While they celebrated in the streets and the workers enjoyed their extra and well-deserved time off, wealth and prosperity didn’t automatically follow the change. Because of this, most people could only afford substitute coffee at the time. And the substitute coffee was served for friends and family in Madam Blue, an affordable durable enamel coffeepot.

Madam Blue is created

Poul Glud was a plumber from Vejle, full of ideas. He identified the need for cheap products with a longer shelf life. When Vejle became too small for Poul Glud, he went to Germany. After this he returned to Denmark and Copenhagen with even more ideas. In Copenhagen, Poul Glud joined forces with Troels Marstrand, who’d previously worked in the hardware industry. The two gentlemen formed the company Glud and Marstrand in 1879. So in actuality long before the workers got their agreement, but in a time where the dissatisfaction was rapidly increasing. Glud and Marstrand started with the production of metal products for households, dairies, and toys.

At the end of the 1800s enamel became a popular material to use for kitchen supplies. The popularity was due to the esthetically pleasing look, the fact that it was hygienic and at the same time the symbolic value of the blue and white colors: cleanliness. After the turn of the century, Glud and Marstrand launched their blue enamel coffee pot – Madam Blue. The name Madam Blue was originally only supposed to be a commercial slogan used only for the coffee pot, but the name became so popular that all blue enamel supplies got the name. The useful coffee pot had secured a spot on all housewives’ wishlist and it quickly became an essential part of the Danish kitchen.

In the 1930s even more colors were added, now it wasn’t only available in the blue and white colors, but also red and orange and the enamel supplies from Madam Blue became even more popular when a newspaper could inform that King Frederik and Queen Ingrid were decorating their kitchen in their new hunting cabin, in the town of Trend, with red enamel from Madam Blue.

The discontinuance of Madam Blue

Due to the world wars, there was a shortage of raw material and in 1966 the production of enamel was discontinued. Glud and Marstrand did however continue as a company and in 2005 was sold to the Mexican company; Envases Universales de México. Today Glud and Marstrand produce packaging for meat, dairy products, vegetables, cookies, tobacco, etc.

Many Danes still today own coffee pots, soap dispensers, and cups from Madam Blue. Some of the supplies have already been passed down a generation or two. Glud and Marstrand accomplished creating a long-lasting product available for a fair price, which over 100 years later is still creating memories among Danes.

Madam Blue is often found in Kirppu stores all over the country. If you want to start the hunt for a true classic danish design item that has been part of defining the Danes for more than 100 years, then click here.