This is a ceramic plate titled "Gamla Stan" produced by Lisa Larson at Gustavsberg between 1963 and 1978. Gamla Stan is a Swedish word meaning Old Town, and is the common name for the oldest urban area in central Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, which was established around the 13th century. Gamla Stan is also home to the Swedish Royal Palace and the Parliament Building, and the streets are lined with buildings that are over 500 years old, making it a major tourist attraction in Stockholm.
If you look closely at each house, the architectural styles and colors are different, but it is a mysterious townscape where long, colorful buildings are crowded together, creating a sense of harmony as a whole. This work perfectly captures the architectural features of Gamla Stan, such as the roofs, windows, and entrance doors that vary in height and shape. Gamla Stan is an ancient city that symbolizes the cityscape of Sweden, and was also the model for the Ghibli film ``Kiki's Delivery Service.''
In addition to the production line for mass-market products, Gustavsberg also had a department called G-Studion, where famous designers such as Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larsson produced artwork. This is a work made in that atelier. Each piece is handmade, and the back is engraved with "LISA L GUSTAVSBERG SWEDEN".
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg / Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson / Lisa Larson Series name: Väggplattor / Ceramic board work name: Gamla Stan / Gamla Stan (Old Town)
Year: 1963-1978 Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
This is a complete item in its original condition with no cracks or chips. There are dents on the back and sides that occur during kiln firing during manufacturing.
■Size
Width 28.5cm Height 28cm Thickness approx. 2cm
Lisa Larson
Lisa Larson (1931-2024)
A world-renowned Swedish ceramicist, he was born in Härlunda, a village of about 500 people in the Älmhult district of Kronoberg county in the Småland region in southern Sweden.
As a child, she aspired to be a fashion designer, but after enrolling at the Gothenburg Academy of Art, she studied ceramics. One day, she was discovered by Stig Lindberg at a competition, and after a one-year probationary period, she officially joined Gustavsberg as a designer. Shortly thereafter, in 1955, she released the Lilla Zoo series, and in 1964, she came up with the Afrika series, famous for its lion statues.
Lisa Larson has not only worked for Gustavsberg, but has also provided designs for Höganäs, the major domestic retailer Åhléns, and the German ceramic manufacturer Rosenthal. After leaving Gustavsberg in 1979, she became a freelance artist, working on a voluntary basis with companies, rather than as an exclusive contractor, and continued to work freely in various fields. In 1979 and 1981, she held solo exhibitions at Seibu Department Store in Tokyo, and the 1981 exhibition was visited by a total of 70,000 people.
Gustavsberg's G-Studion
Apart from the mass production line, Gustavsberg had a department called G-Studion. Famous designers such as Willhelm Koge, Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larsson created their artwork here.
Founded in 1942, G Studio was a group of artists, designers, craftsmen and illustrators whose activities ranged from creative work to exhibition ceramics, public space art production and industrial design. . It operated until 1993 and served as an ``aesthetic laboratory''. It was also responsible for providing design ideas for Gustavsberg's mass-produced products.
G-Studio was a renovated atelier in an old building from a ceramics factory in Gustavsberg, and was a hub for more than 100 artists and craftsmen. It is no exaggeration to say that Gustavsberg's ceramic tradition of the 20th century originated from here. It was a centerpiece of the Swedish art and design world and served as a breeding ground for new creativity.
Each piece of G Studio's work is handmade, and there are videos showing the production process. The video shows a man wearing round glasses, designer Stig Lindberg. And on the right side you can see Willhelm Koge, who was the studio director.