Møde med Paul Anker designeren bag UGLEN

Posted on februar 28, 2014

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I går var jeg så heldig at blive inviteret på pressetur med Architectmade. Formålet var at besøge det trædrejeri, hvor både Birds og Uglen bliver produceret. Jeg elsker at se, hvor vores elskede danske design kommer til, duften og larmen og de passionerede mennesker som arbejder på ‘fabrikken’ er en fascinerende oplevelse.

FAKTA: Finn, som ejer drejeriet kunne ikke helt fortælle, hvor mange proscesser/arbejdsstationer uglen gennemgår (den er så ny, at arbejdsgangen ikke helt er effektiviteret endnu), men Birds gennemgår 10 processer, så mon ikke Uglen gennemgår nogenlunde det samme? måske lidt flere pga. montering af magneten, som holder hovedet.

Jeg optog en lille film, så du kan se, hvordan Uglen får sine smukke øjne:

Mødet med Paul Anker Hansen

På turen mødte vi designeren bag Uglen, Paul Anker Hansen, som sammen med sin kone var kørt fra Fyn for at hilse på os. Et yderst varmt og charmerende ægtepar, som har været gift i over 60 år. Jeg tror vi alle faldt pladask for den charmerende ældre herre ( 83 år) som han sad der med strålende øjne, og fortalte hvordan Uglen kom til.

Vi var tre drenge på gården på Bornholm, og vi havde skoven i baghaven – det var vores legeplads. Vi var meget optagede af uglerne, som sad i de høje asketræer. Jeg lurede om dagen, hvor uglerne sad på grenene tæt inde ved stammerne, og når mørket faldt på sneg mine brødre og jeg os ud for at se uglerne, og gysede når de susede forbi vores hoveder i jagten efter mus. Uglen har siden da fascineret mig” fortæller Paul Anker.

Idéen til uglen havde ligget i årevis i Paul Anker Hansens bevidsthed, men udtrykket og udseendet kom til ham en nat, hvor han lå søvnløs efter for meget kaffe. Han stod tidligt op, og gik i sving med at snedkeret den smukke ugle. Paul viste den til sin værste kritiker (-det var hans egne ord om hans kone:-)) og hun kunne godt se den var sød. Paul sendte uglen til Skjøde Knudsen et snedkeri i Skjern, som meget gerne ville købe produktionsrettighederne til Uglen. Året var i 1960 og Paul solgte rettighederne for 6.000 kr. Det var mange penge dengang og perfekt for Paul og hans hustru.

I 1977 gik Skjøde Knudsen konkurs og det hele ebbede ud. Paul havde dog stadig designretten og efter opfordringer fra familie og venner, begyndte Paul Anker Hansen at lave uglen selv. For nylig har Paul og Architectmade indgået samarbejde og Uglen produceres af Architectmade, på drejeriet i Haslev. Produktionen er dansk, og det er træet også. Uglen er lavet i egetræ. Dens krop og hoved sidder sammen ved hjælp af en lille magnet, som gør det muligt at bevæge hovedet, så Uglen kan skifte udtryk.

Paul Anker Hansen har lavet meget i træ siden da, men kun på hobbybasis til hjemmet og gaver. Hans hovedbeskæftigelse har i mange år været dyrlæge. Jeg spurgte ham, om der lå flere skønne dyr gemt i ham, til det fik jeg ikke noget helt klart nej, så jeg drømmer om, at der måske en dag dukker endnu lidt op fra Paul Anker Hansens skuffer, man har vel lov at drømme.

Jeg var så heldig, at få Paul til at signere min ugle ♥ Du kan se på billederne herunder.

Yesterday, I was so lucky to get invited on a press tour with Architctmade. We visited the wood caver shop where both Birds and The Owl are made. I love watching our beloved Danish design come to life and experiencing the smell, the noise and the passionate peole who work at the factury.

Facts:
Finn who owns the wood shop was not sure exactly how many different stages the Owl goes through, as it is so new that the working process has not yet been streamlined. However, Birds has 10 stages so I wonder if it is not the same for the Owl.

In the video above You can se how the Owl gets its beautiful eyes:

Meeting Paul Anker Hansen

I met the designer behind the Owl, Paul Anker Hansen, who had driven a long way with his wife to meet us. Such a warm and charming couple, who has been married for more than 60 years. I think we all fell head over heels for this charming man of 83, as he sat there with sparkling eyes and told us about the making of the Owl.

We were three boys at the farmhouse on Bornholm and the forest was our back yard – it was our playground. We were captivated by the owls in the tall ash trees. I watched them during the day as they sat closely to the tree trunks, and when darkness fell my brothers and I sneaked out to watch the owls, and we shivered as they whizzed past our heads on the hunt for mice. The owl has fascinated me ever since then – Paul Anker said.

The idea for the Owl had been on his mind for years, but the expression and look came to him one night, when he lay sleepless after too much coffee. He got up early and started making the beautiful owl. Paul showed it to his worst critic, his wife. She thought it was lovely. Paul sent the owl to Skjøde Knudsen, a wood carver shop in Skjern, and they were very interested in buying the production rights for the Owl. Paul sold the rights in 1960 for 6.000 kr, which was a lot of money back then.

In 1977 Skjøde Knudsen went bankrupt and everything fell to pieces. Paul still had the ownership of the design, and at the request of friends and family Paul Anker started making the Owl himself. Recently he started collaborating with Architectmade in a wood carver shop in Haslev. The production is Danish and so is the wood. The Owl is made from oak. Its head and body are fastned by a small magnet that enables the head to turn.

Paul Anker Hansen has produced many things in wood since then, but only as a hobby for his home and as gifts. For many years his main job has been as a vet. I asked him if he has other beautiful designs for animals hidden in his treasures, and to that question I got no distinct answer. So I am hoping for other beautiful creatures to turn up one day. One is allowed to dream.

I was so lucky to get Paul to sign my Owl. Take a look at the pictures above.