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Alkmaar Cheese Carriers (Alkmaarse Kaasdragers)

Anno Smith

About this artwork.

The Alkmaar Cheese Carriers, a tableau on the facade of the former cheese warehouse of the Anema family on the Westerkade, is one of Anno Smith's best-known works. It dates from the years just after the Second World War and is his first building ceramics. In 2003, the work suddenly 'disappeared'. The owner of the building had the tableau removed because it was in poor condition. In 2008, the tableau was fully restored and put back a little further on in the facade.

In the post-war period, the ceramicist Anno Smith made many hundreds of porch decorations and facade tableaus for the city of Groningen, intended for residential complexes, schools, shops and factories, among other things. It is not without reason that ceramic experts call Anno Smith 'the greatest decorator'.

Smith mainly depicted everyday objects and scenes: fish, flowers, playing children and working craftsmen. The uniformity of the post-war architectural style gave each porch and each building its own identity. Recognizability is therefore not a coincidence an important characteristic of Smith's work. His clients also wanted cheerful representations that had to be understandable for the residents.

About the assignment.

Anno Smith did not use an electric kiln for his ceramic works but a coal-fired kiln. He also fired at a higher temperature than most kilns, which made the end result harder; ideal for use in facades.

Part of route.

Location.

Westerkade 16

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Facts & Figures.