This is a ceramic bulldog statue from the Stora Zoo series designed by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg in 1960. It is one of the earliest pieces created when Lisa Larson made her debut as a ceramic artist.
Lisa Larson joined Gustavsberg in 1954 at the young age of 23. The year before, in 1953, while still a student, she entered a competition with a small cat with a standing tail, which caught the eye of Stig Lindberg, and this was later released as the "Lilla Zoo" series.
The "Little Zoo" series became a big hit at the time due to its novelty. In response to the success, "Stora Zoo" was released in 1958, featuring larger animals. The basic design is a direct successor to Lisa Larson's Stora Zoo style.
This bulldog is a relatively small piece in the series, and when viewed from directly above, the round bulldog is designed to be almost circular. It has a somewhat playful yet sad expression, and a cute short tail growing out of its tail. This is a masterpiece vintage piece in which the bulldog's expression is deformed in the Lisa Larson style.
■Details Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series name: Stora Zoo / Big Zoo
Title: Bulldog
Era: 1960-1968 Country of manufacture: Sweden
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
There are no cracks, chips, crazing, paint loss, etc., and the condition is perfect, with the figure remaining exactly as it was when it was made. All of the original stickers are still there, and the condition and color are good, making this an excellent piece among the large zoo bulldogs.
■Size
Diameter 13cm Height 13cm
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.