Peter Matzen and Matzen Tegl
Peter Matzen is a central figure in Danish brick production and owner of Matzen Tegl, which includes both Carl Matzen’s Brickworks and Graasten Brickworks. He is the eighth generation in a family that has been involved in brickmaking since 1750, making the company Denmark’s oldest industrial enterprises and even owned by the same family.
Peter Matzen took over the leadership of Matzen Tegl in 1988 and has since worked purposefully to unite tradition with innovation. He is known for his passion for creating something unique and aesthetic, placing great emphasis on developing products that both respect history and meet modern architectural demands. Under his leadership, Matzen Tegl produces hand-moulded and soft-moulded bricks in a wide range of colors and formats, often tailored to the specific wishes of architects and builders.
Matzen Tegl also owns 50% of the Swedish company Tegelmäster.
Tegelmäster is not just a distributor but an active partner in construction projects. They offer both products and consultancy and are often involved from the initial idea phase, contributing technical knowledge and aesthetic insight. Tegelmäster carries the full range of Matzen Tegl products.
In addition to the close collaboration with Tegelmäster in Sweden, Matzen Tegl has established strong dealership relationships in both Norway, Holland and the UK.
In Norway, Matzen Tegl is represented by Mur Direkte AS, a well-established and independent company based in Oslo. Mur Direkte specializes in high-quality bricks and offers technical advice and personal service to architects, contractors, and developers.
In Holland our Matzen Tegl´s representativ is STC (Stenen Totaal Concept) STC is an independent and neutral advisor for architects, contractors, dealers and privat builders.
With deep industry knowledge and a broad network in the construction sector, STC helps identify the ideal brick for each project – both visually and technically.
In the UK, sales are handled by EBM Supplies, which serves as Matzen Tegl’s official distributor. EBM provides consultancy and sales services to the British market, ensuring that Matzen Tegl’s products are accessible to architects and developers in England.
This international network enables Matzen Tegl to reach a broad audience while maintaining the high quality and close customer collaboration the company is known for.
On February 1, 2025, the company took a historic step by establishing its own sales organization. This marks a new era in which Matzen Tegl operates more independently and can focus even more on customized solutions and product development—both from its own ideas and in collaboration with customers.
Matzen Tegl’s bricks are used in new construction, restoration, and prestigious architectural projects.
They are known for their rich colors and ability to create vibrant facades. Peter Matzen emphasizes that the bricks should “stand out in an unexpected direction”—meaning they should have personality and contribute to the architectural expression.
Our mission is to make Matzen Tegl an internationally recognized brand while preserving the company’s roots in Danish clay and history.
Matzen Tegl is not just a brick manufacturer—it is a living legacy that bridges the craftsmanship of the past with the architecture of the future.
Gråsten Brickworks
The brickworks' first owner was Duke Ernst Günther, who also owned Gråsten Castle. After reunification in 1920, the state and the castle took over the works.
In 1922, the brickworks was bought by Johan Heinrich Clausen, who also owned Hillerød Brickworks. His son, Erik Clausen, became manager and took over the works in 1931. After his death in 1959, his widow, Elisabeth Omogen Clausen, continued to run the brickworks.
In 1962 or 1963, it was converted into a limited liability company, with family members, bricklayer Peter Hansen and the other works at Nybøl Nor as shareholders. In the following years, there were several changes in the circle of shareholders. From 1982 to 1984, the brickworks was closed due to sales difficulties.
Bricklayer Peter Hansen became director in 1963 but died in 1983. His son Erik Hansen took over the directorship in 1984. In the late 1980s, the factory needed significant investments, which the brickworks that had shares in the company were not interested in carrying out. At the same time, there was a price war on bricks, and earnings were not very good. This led to Carl Matzen taking over all shares in 1988. The brickworks is owned and operated today by his son Peter Matzen, who is the 8th generation and also the owner of Carl Matzen's Brickworks.