A ceramic statue of a donkey (Asna) from the series Stora Zoo designed by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg in 1958. This is an early work created by Lisa Larson when she debuted as a potter.
Lisa Larson joined Gustavsberg in 1954 at the young age of 23. The previous year, in 1953, when he was a student, a small cat with a spiky tail that he had presented in a competition caught the attention of Stig Lindberg, who later released it as the ``Lilla Zoo'' series.
The "Little Zoo" series became a big hit at the time because of its novelty. Following the success of the game, Stora Zoo, which featured larger animals, was released in 1958. The basic design is inherited from Lisa Larson's small zoo style, but although it is called a donkey, it has an interesting shape that is rounded and deformed like a cat.
The moist texture of the glaze gives it a calming feel, and the somewhat melancholy expression is natural and gives you a sense of Lisa Larson's style. Lisa Larson has several cat works, but this is her earliest work, and is one of the most outstanding vintage ceramic statues.
■Details Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series name: Stora Zoo / Big zoo Title: Asna / Donkey Era: 1958-1979 Country of origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★★★ (5: complete)
There are no cracks or penetrations, and the original seals are still intact. It is in very good condition and is a complete item that retains its appearance at the time of production.
■Size Height 10cm Width 12cm Thickness 9cm
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.