This Don Quijote ceramic plate was produced in the atelier of Gustavsberg, a long-established Swedish pottery manufacturer. In addition to the mass-produced production line, Gustavsberg had an in-house atelier called G-Studion where artisans produced pottery by hand one by one. The designer is Stig Lindberg, a mid-century standard-bearer representing Scandinavia in the 20th century.
This is a depiction of Don Quixote, the protagonist of Cervantes's novel Don Quixote, and his servant Sancho Panza who rides the Rocinante. You can see Stig Lindberg's signature engraved on the lower right side of the front. It is a heavy ceramic plate weighing over 2 kg, and is one of the masterpieces that vividly conveys the heyday of Scandinavian modernity to the present day.
Don Quixote is famous for the episode in which an old knight possessed by delusions fights a windmill while on a journey, but when he tries to find out the truth, he comes up with a reason such as that a wizard is using magic, and the real story is revealed. It's a story about never being able to get to the truth.
Don Quixote's eyes on the ceramic plate also look somewhat insane. The white part of the eye is black, and the iris is the same color as the skin. His long, slender face is emotionless, which gives him a mysterious charm.
The top and bottom frames are tiled, with a dot pattern on the top and a check pattern on the bottom if you look closely. They each seem to represent a helmet and a chain mail. Although it is a decorative ceramic plate, it is a powerful work that would be suitable for use in a similar way to Kyoto's Kaneki.
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Stig Lindberg Title: Don Quixote Don Quixote Year: 1960s Country of manufacture: Sweden Condition: ★★★★☆ (4: Good condition)
There is a slight chip on the lower right corner of the back. There is no change in color, which is caused by the manufacturing process as it is an unglazed ceramic plate, and is shipped as is. Other than that, there are no chips or cracks, and the item is in excellent condition, maintaining its original condition.
■Size
Width 27cm Height 28.5cm Thickness 1.5cm
Stig Lindberg
Stig Lindberg (1916-1982)
Born in Umeå, the central city of northern Sweden. Originally from Stockholm's art school Konstfack ( Learn painting at Konstfack. He joined Gustavsberg in 1937 and gradually rose to prominence under the tutelage of his mentor, Wilhelm Koge. Twelve years later, in 1949, he succeeded Koge as the company's art director in charge of design.
Since then, Lindberg has released numerous works as a standard bearer of Swedish modernism in the mid-20th century. During Lindberg's time, the Gustavsberg workshop was at its peak, and its works from that time are recognized as works from the golden period known as ``mid-century,'' and are highly valued. Lindberg's studio is called G-Studion, where young designers are demonstrating their skills and producing famous artists such as Lisa Larson.
Gustavsberg
Gustavsberg is a long-established Swedish pottery manufacturer founded in 1825. For more information on the history of the company , please see this article♪ The company produced bathtubs and other housing equipment, but from the late 19th century onward, they focused on producing artistic ceramics, and their name became widely known. I did. Known for its simple and beautiful designs with motifs of nature and folklore, it is a manufacturer that led Scandinavian design in the 20th century.
It produced many outstanding artists such as Lisa Larsson and Stig Lindberg, and was a central figure in the ``Mid-Century'' art movement of the mid-20th century in Northern Europe. Even today, it is highly praised for its high artistry, technical ability, and unique design that evokes the Nordic climate.