Figgjo is Norway's sole remaining porcelain manufacturer, and it operates from the same small village south of Sandnes where it was founded in 1941. Harald Lima and Sigurd Figved started with a small pottery workshop powered by an old hydroelectric plant from 1918, using water from the local salmon river and clay from the surrounding area. After the war, ceramist Ragnar Grimsrud joined as co-owner and shaped the company's philosophy: offer something for everyone, from design enthusiasts to everyday households.
A new factory was completed in 1947, and by the 1950s, silkscreen printing and coloured slip techniques let the company produce distinctive patterns at scale. Designers like Hermann Bongard, Turi Gramstad Oliver, and Inger Waage created tableware that became icons of Norwegian mid-century design. Their 1960s and 1970s pieces are now collectible, held in museums from Melbourne to Indianapolis.
In 1968, Figgjo merged with Stavangerflint, and by 1979 all production had moved to Figgjo. Today the factory specialises in vitrified china for professional kitchens and restaurants. If you have eaten at a Norwegian hotel or canteen, chances are the plate was made here. The factory has a museum showing the design history and a factory outlet selling current and discontinued lines.
