This fox sculpture by Lisa Larson is one of the most popular pieces in the Skansen Zoo series. Created in 1978, it features a rounded body and a downcast expression, showcasing Lisa's characteristically minimalist design.
This piece is even more special because the inscription on the bottom indicates that Lisa Larson was involved in the design and Bernd Friberg in the glaze. This is not just a prestigious credit, but also has historical value as it symbolizes Gustavsberg's studio culture.
Bernd Friberg is one of Sweden's leading ceramic artists. Born in Höganäs in 1899, he trained in the pottery industry at a young age. In 1934, he joined the pottery industry in Gustavsberg, where he established a high reputation for both wheel-throwing and glaze expression.
The appeal of Friberg's glazes lies in their delicacy, which emphasizes the "appearance of the glaze," "pooling and fluctuation," and "deep luster" rather than the color itself. This goes well with the brown gradation like the fox in this piece, and is a point that gives it a different level of perfection from the regular version.
The combination of Lisa's design and Friberg's glaze creates a depth that is different from standard specifications. The entire piece is covered in a warm brown glaze, with a soft gradation from the spine to the cheeks, and the gloss and shadows change slowly depending on how the light hits it. This is an item that allows you to enjoy the "glaze scenery" that is difficult to achieve with mass-produced items.
The animal motif makes a beautiful picture just by placing it on a shelf, a windowsill, or on wooden furniture, and it is a piece that can be enjoyed for a long time as a small sculpture.
The stamp on the bottom reads "Form Lisa L glasyr It is engraved with the name Berndt F." This means that Friberg applied the glaze to the piece that was molded by Lisa Larson. "Glasyr" is Swedish for "glaze" or "glaze."
■Detailed specifications Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Glaze: Berndt Friberg Year: 1978 Country of manufacture: Sweden
■Condition ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
It is in very good condition with no cracks, chips, or other damage. Please understand that the variations in the shade and flow of the glaze, as well as the firing process, are unique characteristics of the piece from the time of production. A protective felt pad is attached to the bottom.
■Size: Width 14.5cm, depth 13cm, height 7.5cm
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.
