Osborne Theomun Olsen

Osborne Theomun Olsen
Olsen circa 1930-1940
Born	(1883-06-09)June 9, 1883 Chicago, Illinois
Died	January 9, 1971(1971-01-09) (aged 87) Chicago, Illinois
Occupation	Porcelain
Spouse(s)	Augusta Schmidt (m. 1905–71)
Children	Perry Olsen (1907-1974) Evelyn Olsen (1909-2002)
Parent(s)	Anna Maria Jensen (1854-c1895) Peder Matthias Olsen (1849-1896)

Osborne Theomun Olsen (June 9, 1883 – January 9, 1971) was the owner of Osborne Art Studios in Chicago, Illinois, which existed from 1910 to 1973.^[1]^[2]

Biography

Osborne was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 9, 1883 to Anna Maria Jensen (1854-1896) and Peder Matthias Olsen (1849-1896) of Farsund, Norway. Osborne had the following siblings: Jennie Olsen (1881-?), Perry Olsen (1885-1971), and Harriet Olsen (1889-?).^[1]

His father died of hyperthermia during the 1896 Eastern North America heat wave in Chicago.

With both of Osborne's parents dead by 1900 the four children went to live with their widowed maternal aunt Johanna Katrine Jensen (1857-1946). Katherine had two children: Henry Barca (1886-1961) and Leo Barca (1887-1924). In 1900 Osborne was already working as a decorator.^[3] By 1911 he was a member of the Art Institute of Chicago.^[4]

Osborne married Augusta Schmidt (1883-1974) on June 3, 1905, in Chicago and had the following children: Perry Olsen (1907-1974) and Evelyn Olsen (1909-2002). In 1910 he was using the name "Asbjorn T. Olsen".

He died on January 10, 1971, and his funeral notice appeared in the Chicago Tribune on January 11, 1971. Osborne was buried on January 12 at Acacia Park Cemetery, Chicago. His widow, Augusta, and his son, Perry continued the china business until 1973.^[1]

Osborne Art Studio

Osborne owned Osborne Art Studio in Chicago (sometimes written as "Osbourne Art Studio") which decorated porcelain and other ceramics. He bought undecorated porcelain from Hutschenreuther and other manufacturers which he then decorated. Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson write: "There is no question that Osborne did beautiful work, but he is often accused of being a Pickard copyist, and this tends to hurt the value of many Osborne pieces."^[2]

Gallery

Osborne Art Studio Hutschenreuther Selb saucer
Osborne Art Studio backstamp on Hutschenreuther Selb saucer
Osborne Art Studio Hutschenreuther Selb cup and saucer
Osborne Art Studio backstamp on Hutschenreuther Selb cup and saucer
Osborne Art Studio decorated Hutschenreuther Selb 6-1/4 plate

Timeline

1883 Birth of Osborne Olsen in Chicago.^[1]
1896 Death of Peder Matthias Olsen (1849-1896), his father, in the 1896 Eastern North America heat wave in Chicago. He decorated Japanese lacquer ware
1896 Death of mother from cancer.
1896 Osborne raised by his paternal uncle, Theodore Johan Olsen (1850-1896).
1896 Theodore Johan Olsen (1850-1896) killed by a train and Osborne orphaned again.
1896 Osborne raised by his widowed maternal aunt, Katherine Marie Jensen (1857-1946)
1900 (circa) Begin work as a china decorator for another studio.
1900 US census with Osborne working as "decorator" and living with Katherine Marie Jensen (1857-1946).
1905 Marriage to Augusta Schmidt (1883-1974)
1907 Birth of Perry Osborne Olsen (1907-1974).
1909 Birth of Evelyn Olsen (1909-2002).
1910 Start of Osborne Art Studio.^[1]
1910 US census with Osborne working as "china decorator" in "shop".
1914 Workshop opened at 2520 North Milwaukee Avenue.
1918 World War I draft registration of September 12th.
1918 Working at 6935 Overbill Avenue.
1920 US census with Osborne working in Chicago, Illinois.
1930 US census with Osborne living in Chicago, Illinois.
1940 US census with Osborne living in Chicago, Illinois.
1971 Death of Osborne Olsen in Chicago.^[1]
1973 Osborne Art Studio closed.

Porcelain blanks used by Osborne Art Studios

Hutschenreuther of Selb, Germany
Reinhold Schlegelmilch of Tillowitz, Germany

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Osborne Theomun Olsen.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 "Osborne Olsen". Chicago Tribune. January 11, 1971. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
1 2 Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson (May 1, 2001). "A Plate with A Past". Scripps Howard News Service. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
↑ 1900 US Census for Chicago, Illinois
↑ Art Institute of Chicago Annual Report. Art Institute of Chicago. 1911.

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