1. CURRICULUM VITAE
Name, address, etc. Gunnar Jakobsen
Copenhagen area
Denmark
Born: 5th
May 1949
Position Senior Executive Concultant, International Division, Central Customs and Tax
Administration, Ministry of Taxation. Retired end of May 2014.
Education Bachelor Degree in Customs and Tax Administration in 1975.
Courses in Librarianship at the Royal Danish School of Librarianship 1977-78, etc.
Language skills Danish (mother tongue), English (read, write and speak fluently - working language),
German (read and speak) and French (some ability in reading and speaking).
Ceramics activities, Customs and tax history, etc.
2014 Started to work on a bibliography on the Danish writer and illustrator of
children’s books Dorte Karrebæk.
2014 Published an extended and updated edition of the bibliography on Danish ceramics
“Dansk Keramisk Bibliografi · Danish Ceramics Bibliography · Dänische
Keramische Bibliographie”. [967 pages and 18747 references]. The first edition
was published in 1998.
The bibliography gives a comprehensive overview of literature on Danish ceramics
produced from 1700-2014, both studio pottery and mass-produced ceramics.
It includes literature on individual potters and artists as well as workshops and
factories and includes references to books, catalogues, articles in periodicals,
annual publications, etc. written in Danish and other languages. The bibliography is
therefore an indispensable tool for those interested in ceramics, and for libraries,
museums and other who have professional connections with Danish ceramics, but
also for collectors who wish to know where to find information on individual
potters, artists, workshops or factories as well as for the potters themselves.
2010 Member of International Academy of Ceramics/ Académie Internationale de la
Céramique.
2006 Published the bibliography “Ib Spang Olsen og Bogen 1944 -2006 - en
bibliografi” [Ib Spang Olsen and the book 1944-2006] with comments by Ib
Spang Olsen.
Initiator of an exhibition with ceramics made by the Danish writer of children's
books and illustrator Ib Spang Olsen in the “Grimmerhus · Museum of
International Ceramic Art”.
2004 In 2004, when the “Grimmerhus · Museum of International Ceramic Art”
[Now: Clay· Museum of Ceramic Art] in Middelfart was seeking funding for
the purchase of “The Erik Veistrup Collection”, a collection consisting of 850
works of Danish ceramists from the 1900s onwards. I was asked as an expert
to make a judgement and an evaluation of the value of this collection. The
result was that a significant donation from Bikubenfonden [a Danish
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2. foundation] made the purchase of this outstanding collection of Danish studio
pottery possible.
2003 Published the œuvre on the posters by Ib Spang Olsen “Ib Spang Olsen og
Plakaten” [Ib Spang Olsen and the Poster] with comments by Ib Spang Olsen.
Started the discussions concerning a book on Danish studio pottery 1880-
2000 and a biographical encyclopaedia on studio potters, designers, etc.
Unfortunately it has not until now been possible to find the necessary funding
for such projects even though art historians and museums find such
publications very useful, as it would help to promote Danish studio potters
and other artist-craftsmen. Those involved still hope that the book on Danish
studio pottery 1880-2000 will be published sometime.
1998 Published the first edition of the bibliography on Danish ceramics “Dansk
Keramisk Bibliografi” [Danish Ceramics Bibliography - 653 pages and 6915
titles]. The “Danish Ceramics Bibliography” has continuously been revised and
updated since publication and a 2nd
edition was published in 2014.
1997- Contributed updated bibliographies/bibliographic material to catalogues and
books about a number of ceramists, e.g. Tove Anderberg, Thorvald Bindesbøll,
Peter Brandes, Gutte Eriksen, Jean René Gauguin and Alev Siesbye.
1995- Since 1995 committee member of Keramikkens Venner [Friends of Ceramics]
and the editor of the journal “keramiske noter” [notices on ceramics]. “keramiske
noter” is published twice a year in April and in September, and each issue has 40-
52 pages. Each issue includes a comprehensive overview of forthcoming major
ceramic exhibitions in Denmark and other European countries, Canada and
U.S.A., a bibliography on literature on Danish ceramics, ceramists and ceramic
factories, etc., an overview of major new books published/under publication
worldwide in Norwegian, Swedish, English, German or French, all compiled by
the editor, comprehensive reviews of the most important books published about
studio pottery and factory-produced ceramics as well as technical issues, articles
on studio potters and technical issues. The reviews are written mainly by the
editor but also by experts from Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Good
contacts to European ceramic museums, publishers, art historians and other
specialists writing books on ceramics.
On request creating contacts between foreign writers/publishers and Danish
ceramists according to the writers’ individual requirements.
1994-1995 1994-1995 co-founder of Keramikkens Venner [Friends of Ceramics]. The
object of this society is to increase the interest in and the knowledge of Danish
and international ceramic art.
1992 Started work on a Danish Ceramics Bibliography.
1990 From 1990 he has been a member of Dansk Historisk Fællesråd [Council of
Danish Historical Societies] and until 1997 the secretary, 1998-2005 and from
2007-2013 the deputy chairman and 2000-2001 the chairman of this
organisation.
1982 Published the first volume of the bibliography “Ib Spang Olsens bogarbejder 1944-
1981” [Ib Spang Olsen’s books 1944-1981] with comments by Ib Spang Olsen.
Gunnar Jakobsen Page 2 of 3

3. 1980 Started the co-operation with the Danish writer of children’s books and
illustrator Ib Spang Olsen and the work on the first volume of a bibliography
on books written and/or illustrated by Ib Spang Olsen.
1981 Published together with Tove Wihlborg Andersen a bibliography on the history
of the Danish Customs Administration “Dansk Toldhistorisk Bibliografi”.
1977- 1977 co-funder of Toldhistorisk Selskab [The Danish Society for Customs
History] and since 1977 committee member and secretary of Toldhistorisk
Selskab [Now “Told- og Skattehistorisk Selskab”/The Danish Society for
Customs and Tax History] and responsible for the daily administration of the
society and the preparation and publishing of historical books.
Professional life Worked for the Danish Customs and Tax Administration 1968-2014. Wide
experience in both theoretical and practical matters concerning customs
procedures, value added tax, excise duties and computerisation. From 1977 to
1985 in charge of the Customs Library. From 1991-2005 involved in
consultancy with wide international experience in advisory work as a result of
working with customs and tax administrations in Europe, Africa and Asia and
working for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission
and the World Bank. From 2005-2007 EuroCustoms correspondent and also
from 2005-2011 member of the EU Customs 2007/2013 Committee, from
2005-2014 Fiscalis co-ordinator and from 2011-2014 also Customs 2013 co-
ordinator and member of the Fiscalis committee. Has work experience from
Denmark, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania,
Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and Kenya. More
information about my professional life in “CV-GJ - Professional life”.
Publications Gunnar Jakobsen: Dansk Keramisk Bibliografi · Danish Ceramics Bibliography ·
Dänische Keramische Bibliographie (2014)
Gunnar Jakobsen: C.F. Holms Bidrag til Sundtoldens historie) [Article in: Tolden i
Sundet (2010)]
Gunnar Jakobsen: Ib Spang Olsen og Bogen 1944-2006 (2006)
Gunnar Jakobsen: Ib Spang Olsen og Plakaten (2003)
Gunnar Jakobsen: Sekretæren og Selskabet - 25 år tilbage i tiden [Article in
”Zise · Told- og Skattehistorisk Tidsskrift. Volume 25 - 3/2002)
Gunnar Jakobsen: Ib Spang Olsens bogarbejder 3 - 1991-2001 (2001)
Ib Spang Olsen: Mine bogomslag. Edited by Gunnar Jakobsen (2000)
Gunnar Jakobsen: Dansk Keramisk Bibliografi 1880-1997 (1998)
Gunnar Jakobsen: Ib Spang Olsens bogarbejder 2 - 1981-1991 (1991)
Gunnar Jakobsen: Ib Spang Olsens bogarbejder 1944-1981 (1982)
Tove Wihlborg Andersen & Gunnar Jakobsen: Dansk Toldhistorisk Bibliografi (1981)
Jens Bruhn & Gunnar Jakobsen: Københavns Toldbod - set på grafiske blade (1979)
Gunnar Jakobsen Page 3 of 3