The Gustavsberg porcelain factory was, for many decades, the largest ceramics maker in Sweden and home to some of the most innovative and ingenious makers of the past century. The company, founded in 1825, mass-produced a wide range of products: first decorative household items and tableware in the English style and later bathroom fixtures, including the first pressed-steel bathtubs that would oust heavy cast iron. But of first interest to collectors are the remarkable decorative works created in the Gustavsberg art pottery studio, in particular those by master ceramists Wilhelm Kåge, Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg.
Gustavsberg began producing some individually crafted, highly decorated and richly glazed pieces in the 1860s. While the forms of their mass-produced vessels and plates derived from English, Continental and Asian styles, a select few painters won acclaim for their personal artistry. Gunnar Wennerberg became known for his work in the organic Art Nouveau style, and Josef Ekberg, the company’s design chief from 1908 to 1917, was revered for his expert use of iridescent lusterware glazes and the sgraffito technique, in which a decorative pattern is incised in the surface of a clay pot before it is glazed and fired.
It was not until Ekberg’s successor, Wilhelm Kåge, opened Gustavsberg’s first dedicated art pottery studio that the work became widely recognized. Kåge’s “Argenta” series, which encompasses a variety of vessels coated with an oxidized green glaze and decorated in silver motifs, remains popular. Though perhaps his most striking works are his “Surrea” vases — white bisque porcelain in off-kilter forms inspired by Cubist paintings — and his “Farsta” wares, which include totemic, spindly footed stoneware vases and bowls with textured surfaces, glazed in brown, green and blue.
Kåge’s finest protégés, Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg, took over from Kåge as Gustavsberg’s design directors in 1945. Friberg was a master potter. He threw elegant, simple, symmetrical vases and bowls painstakingly coated in layer after layer of matte glazing to achieve a classic striated effect known as “rabbit’s fur.” Lindberg’s highly collectible studio ceramics fall into two principal categories: The first is made of white porcelain pieces in round, biomorphic or stylized natural forms. The second includes weightier vases — many with textured bodies and applied decorations — glazed in deep, earthy colors. As you will see from the works on these pages, Gustavsberg was a bastion of creativity and precise artistry that turned out a remarkable range of works whose style still resonates with lovers of Scandinavian design.
Stig Lindberg Ceramic Horse Sweden 1950s
By Stig Lindberg
Located in Munich, DE
Stig Lindberg stoneware sculpture horse with hand painted decoration for Gustavsberg, Sweden 1950-1960s. Marked on the bottom with the Artist sign. Excellent vintage condition.
Ceramic
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.12 in W 6.3 in D 3.55 in
Stig Lindberg Horse, Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1952-1972
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Probably made 1956-1957, painted in black and brown against white backdrop. Signed G, studio hand Stig L.
Ceramic, Stoneware
Bruno Gambone Stoneware Horse Raw 1975
By Bruno Gambone
Located in Munich, DE
Raw glazed ceramic horse made by Bruno Gambone from 1975, signed Gambone on the bottom. Very rare in the raw version.
Stoneware
Bruno Gambone Glazed Ceramic Horse Sculpture, Italy, 1970s
By Bruno Gambone
Located in New York, NY
Bruno Gambone large glazed ceramic horse sculpture with flattened hollow body, Italy, 1970s. This regal stoneware horse has an off-white matte gla...
Ceramic
Aldo Londi Bitossi Horse Sculpture, Ceramic, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi Bitossi Horse Sculpture, Ceramic, Italy, 1960s. Medium scale horse with white glaze over a coarse matte brown raw clay. Small indentation to r...
Ceramic
$6,074Sale Price|36% Off
H 14.18 in W 11.03 in D 4.73 in
Vintage Matt Glazed Ceramic Horse by Bruno Gambone
By Bruno Gambone
Located in London, GB
Large matt glazed ceramic horse by the celebrated ceramicist Bruno Gambone. This particular subject matter is an unusual one for this artist. Ital...
Ceramic
$6,099Sale Price|20% Off
H 13.39 in W 11.42 in D 3.94 in
Vintage Ceramic Horse by Bruno Gambone (circa 1970s) - Large
By Bruno Gambone
Located in London, GB
Vintage ceramic horse by Bruno Gambone, (circa 1970s). A charming, sizeable ceramic parade horse with groomed mane and tail in Gambone's signature chalk-white glaze. Light brown figu...
Ceramic
$768
H 12.6 in W 11.82 in D 4.73 in
Mid-Century Modern Horse Ceramic Sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1960
By Aldo Londi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Horse Ceramic Sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1960
Ceramic
$2,008
H 12.21 in W 12.21 in D 5.12 in
Midcentury Horse Sculpture Glazed Ceramic by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful horse sculpture in glazed ceramic by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Made in Italy in the 1960s.
Ceramic
$560
H 6.3 in Dm 6.3 in
Stig Lindberg (1916-1982) for Gustavsberg. Horse figurine in glazed stoneware.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Stig Lindberg (1916-1982) for Gustavsberg. Horse figurine in glazed stoneware in a light green shade. In excellent condition. Signed: Gustavsberg Sweden. Sticker. Dimensions: B 16.0...
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg Sculpture, Susanna and the Elders, Gustavsberg Sweden 1940-50s.
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Skanninge, SE
Very unusual biscuit sculpture by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg depicting Susanna and the elders. Made in Sweden around 1950. In excellent condition with no issues! Signed "Stig L 89...
Ceramic
Pointer Dog, Sculpture by Wilhelm Zwick for Kayser, Germany 1920s.
By Kayser Germany, Wilhelm Zwick
Located in Skanninge, SE
Amazing sculpture depicting a Pointer dog. Designed by German artist Wilhelm Zwick and executed by the German firm Kayserzinn. The condition of this sculpture is really good. Only a ...
Metal
Just Andersen Bronze Vase, Denmark 1930s.
By Just Andersen
Located in Skanninge, SE
Rare Just Andersen bronze vase model B2109. The vase is in good original condition with a beautiful original green/brown patination. No issues concerning the condition. Signed "DENMA...
Bronze
Bertil Vallien Unique and Monumental Wall Sculpture in Glass and Wood, 1966
By Bertil Vallien
Located in Skanninge, SE
A very important early work by Bertil Vallien b. 1938. Unique and monumental wall sculpture, hand painted and contour sawn wood. Made in Sweden 1966. One of a kind! The sculpture is depicting fishes in the water. It was commissioned by an optician in 1966. That is why the eyes are made of oval glass mirrors. They are also hiding the holes where you screw the sculpture to the wall. The sculpture would be great in a fish restaurant or in an indoor pool area. It will certainly make a statement wherever it will hang! A photograph depicting the artist in front of the sculpture is included (see image)! Fully signed and dated 1966 (see image). The sculpture is in 3 parts. The upper part is in one piece. The lower part is in 2 pieces. There are no problems hanging this on the wall. It is heavy but not that heavy. Measurements: The upper part, Lenght 226cm, height 68cm, 7cm deep. The lower part, Lenght 245cm, height 75cm, 7cm deep. As mounted as in the pictures: length 304cm, height 120cm. Total length if one put these pieces after one another, circa 475cm. You can put this sculpture on the wall with different combinations and variations. In 2017 Flint Institute of Arts in Michigan bought the "One million Dollar Boat". They paid one million dollars for the mixed media sculpture "Passage" made by Bertil Vallien. BERTIL VALLIEN EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES 1963 - ongoing Freelance designer for Kosta Boda glassworks, Sweden 1963 - ongoing Independent artist/designer 1961-63 Studies in USA and Mexico 1961 University of Art and Design, Stockholm, Sweden PUBLIC COLLECTIONS (SELECTION) Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, USA HM de Young Museum, San Francisco, USA Yokohama Art Museum. San Francisco, USA Imagine Museum, FL, USA The State Hermitage museum, St. Petersburg, Russia Düsseldorf Museum of Fine Arts, Düsseldorf, Germany Museum of Arts and Design, NY, USA The Art Institute, Chicago, USA National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden VIDA Museum, Sweden, permanent wing Everson Museum, NY, USA Museum of Fine Art, Boston, USA National Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan Microsoft Art Collection, Seattle, Wa, USA JB Speed Art Museum, Louisville, USA The Prescott Collection at Pacific First Centre, Seattle, USA Detroit Art Institute, Detroit Il, USA Yokohama Art Museum, Yokohama, Japan The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany Mint Museum of Art and Design, Charlotte, NC, USA Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, Ohio, USA Museo del Vidrio, Monterrey, Mexico Musée des Art and Design, The Louvre, Paris, France The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada Rockford Museum of Art, Rockford, IL, USA Microsoft Art Collection, Seattle, USA National Museum, Edinburgh, UK Flint Institute of Art, Flint, MI, USA AWARDS (SELECTED) Prince Eugen´s medal for outstanding achievement in art, conferred by the King of Sweden (1998) Gold medal, Royal Academy of Science, Stockholm, Sweden (2005) GAS Visionary Award (2020) Honorary doctorate, Växjö University, Sweden (2002) Artist of the future Award, Imagine Museum, FL, USA (2020) Visionaries Award, Museum of Arts and Design, NY, USA (2001) Medal for exhibition “Nine Rooms” at the 13th Biennale in Venice given by Instituto Veneto di Scienze ed Arti (2012) Young American award, Museum of Arts and Design, NY, USA (1961) Award in recognition of the promotion of Glass Art in the world, Museo del Vidrio Monterey, Mexico (2004) The Libensky Award, Seattle, WA, USA (2008) The Wilson Award, GAS, New Orleans, USA (2005) Urban Glass Award for >>Outstanding Achievement in Glass<< NY, USA (1998) Zweiter Coburger Glaspreis, Coburg, Germany (1985) BIBLIOGRAPHY (SELECTION) 2020 Ytspänning, Galleri Glas, Stockholm, Sweden 2020 Drawings, Ceramics, Glass, Staffan Bengtsson, Kosta förlag, Sweden 2012 Bertil Vallien, Nine Rooms, Publisher Marsilio, Italy 2008 Staven, Gunnar Lindqvist, Kamras/ Kamras förlag 2007 Transperent Bounaries, Ulla-Britt Edberg, Carlsson Bokförlag, Stockholm 2006 Vallien, Gunnar Lindquist, Carlsson Bokförlag, Stockholm 2002 Somna Vakna, Matthew Kangas, University of Washington Press, London 2002 Fiat Lux, Johan Unger Gunnar Lindquist, Carlsson Bokförlag 1998 Glass eats light, Gunnar Lindquist, Carlsson Bokförlag 1997 Headbook, Niclas Rådström, Publisher, Kamras/Kamras 1995 Anod, Peter Nilsson, Nordstedts förlag, Sweden 1990 Bertil Vallien, Gunnar Lindqvist, Carlson Bokförlag 1983 Sandcast, Ulf Thomas Moberg, Moberg Publisher EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION) 2020 Ytspänning, Galleri Glas, Stockholm, Sweden 2020 Vida Museum, Öland, Sweden 2019 Habatat gallery, Detroit, USA 2019 Schantz Gallery, Stockbridge-MA, USA 2018 Leger Gallery, Malmö, Sweden 2017 Gallery Schantz, Stockbridge, MA, USA 2017 Art Miami, Schantz gallery, Miami FL, USA 2017 Spritmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden 2016 Hawk Gallery, Columbus. OH, USA. 2016 Galleri Thomassen, Göteborg, Sweden 2016 Millesgården, Stockholm, Glasstress, Sweden 2016 Edsvik Konsthall, Edsvik, Sweden 2016 SOFA, Navy pier Chicago IL- USA 2015 Galleri Berengo, Muranoi, Italien 2014 Palazzo Guinigi, Lucca, Italien 2013 Gallerie Azur, Spa, Belgien 2011 Marina Barovier Galleria, Venedig, Italien 2011 Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH, USA 2009 Imago Gallery, Palm Springs. CA. USA 2008 Etienne gallery.Oisterwijk, The Netherlands 2007 Heller Gallery, NYC, USA 2007 Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Il, USA 2006 Prince Eugen´s Waldermarsudde, Stockholm, Sweden 2005 Landkrona Konsthall, Landskrona, Sweden 2005 Röhsska Museet, Gothenburg, Sweden 2004 Museo del Vidrio, Monterrey, Mexico 2003 Rockford Art Museum, IL, USA 2003 Glass Museum, International Centre for Contemporary Art, Tacoma, USA 2002 Cellier de Clairvaux, Dijon, France 2002 >>In Transit<< Gävle Museum 2002 Eremitaget, St. Petersburg, Ryssland 2002 The state Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia 2002 Konstindustrimuseet, Oslo, Norway 2001 Riihiimäki Museum, Finland 2000 Traver gallery, Seattle, WA, USA 1999 Museum of Contemporary Art, Warsaw, Poland 1999 Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel 1998 Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA 1998 The Bullseye Gallery Portland, OR, USA 1998 Museum of History, Stockholm, Sweden 1997 Museum of Arts, Indianapolis, USA 1997 Museum of Arts and Design, NY, USA 1969 Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy PERFORMANCE 2012,18,19, 20 Rainshower, Kosta glassworks, Sweden 2007 Diamonds and Ashes, Music: Tomidas, Midnight session at Åfors glass...
Glass, Wood
Charles Catteau Art Deco Vase for Boch Fréres, Belgium, 1920s
By Charles Catteau for Boch Freres
Located in Skanninge, SE
A very fine and typical Art Deco ceramic vase by Charles Catteau for Boch Fréres. Signed "Grès Kéramis D882 Ch. Catteau M". Very nice condition. No issues! CHARLES CATTEAU (1...
Ceramic
Monumental Pair of Marcello Fantoni Etruscan Sgraffiti Vases with Covers
By Marcello Fantoni
Located in Skanninge, SE
An outstanding pair of vases with covers in the sgraffiti technique by the Italian master Marcello Fantoni. These ceramic masterpieces are in perfect condition and they are both sign...
Ceramic
