This is a ceramic statue of a cat (Katt) from the series Lilla Zoo designed by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg in 1956. 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 published it as the book ``Cat'' in the ``Lilla Zoo'' series. will be done.
Lisa Larson is known as a cat lover and has always lived a life with her cats. Lisa Larson created about 30 works with cat motifs during her lifetime, and her ceramic statue of a sleeping cat named Moses was modeled after an actual pet cat.
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 cuteness is expressed as if it suddenly noticed you and put up its tail. 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: Lilla Zoo / Small Zoo
Title: Katt / Cat
Year: 1956-1978 Country of origin: Sweden
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
There are no cracks, chips, or paint loss, and some of the original seals remain. This is a complete product that retains its appearance at the time of production.
■Size
Width 11cm Depth 4cm Height 9.5cm
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.