This is a ceramic cat statue from the Zoo series designed by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg in 1966. The series name Menagerie refers to a show house where exotic animals are displayed. The series featured hippos, camels, cats, ghost mice, and rhinos. All of them are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and are based on rare animals with limited habitats.
This is a cat figurine. The back has a pattern of vertical stripes, the tail stretches vertically, and the cute expression with the corner of the mouth raised as it stares straight ahead is an impressive piece. This work is the most popular work in the Menagerie series. Until then, Lisa Larson's cats had often been created with sharp eyes, but this work is unique in that they emphasize their cuteness. This work can be said to be the origin of Lisa Larson's "cute cats" that are recognized today.
When this work was created in the 1960s, Lisa Larson was passionately researching materials for ceramic statues. The fuselage is made using a new manufacturing method called chamotte, which gives it a more earthy feel while also ensuring high durability. You can feel the texture of chamotte pottery in the texture of the neck and tail.
■Detailed specifications Manufacturer: Gustavsberg / Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson / Lisa Larson Series name: Menageri / Zoo Title: Katt / Cat Age: 1966-1976 Country of origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete) product)
It is in perfect condition, with no cracks, chips, or penetrations, preserving the appearance at the time of production. Some of the original stickers remain and are in very good condition.
■Size
Width 6.5cm Height 9.5cm Depth 6.5cm
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.
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.