This is a one-of-a-kind (unique piece) cat figurine made by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg in the 1950s. This is the piece (actual item) featured in Lisa Larson's RETRO book.
Lisa Larson's early cat works are well known, including Katt from the Stora Zoo series designed in 1956. This is a prototype of the Stora Zoo cat figurine created in 1958, and is one of the little- known and mysterious works called the "Rib Series," which are made entirely from animal skeletons.
The Rib series includes several animals, including horses and birds, but no two pieces of each animal are the same. The cat piece is Lisa Larson's most popular, and this is the only cat piece in the series that has been confirmed. Later mass-produced Lisa Larson pieces were produced using the Rib series as a model. The Rib series is a unique piece that became the very framework of Lisa Larson's well-known works.
The Stora Zoo series of cats was released in 1958, so this work was probably made in 1956 or 1957. Replicas of the Stora Zoo cats are still being manufactured and sold today under the name "Max." This work is a unique piece that marks the beginning of the world-famous Max. The back is signed by LISA L.
We were fortunate enough to be able to acquire this piece. Since her death, Lisa Larson's work has become even more valuable. This piece will never be available again, so it is worth the price. Please take this opportunity to see it.
■Detailed specifications Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Year: 1950s Country of origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
It is in perfect condition with no cracks or chips and has retained the original appearance from when it was made. The back is unglazed, so the roughness of being fired in the kiln remains intact. It is a unique piece of exceptionally well-made masterpiece.
■Size: Width 34.5cm, Height 15cm, Depth 3cm
Gustavsberg's G-Studion
Apart from the mass production line, Gustavsberg had a department called G-Studion. Famous designers such as Willhelm Koge, Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larsson created their artwork here.
Founded in 1942, G Studio was a group of artists, designers, craftsmen and illustrators whose activities ranged from creative work to exhibition ceramics, public space art production and industrial design. . It operated until 1993 and served as an ``aesthetic laboratory''. It was also responsible for providing design ideas for Gustavsberg's mass-produced products.
G-Studio was a renovated atelier in an old building from a ceramics factory in Gustavsberg, and was a hub for more than 100 artists and craftsmen. It is no exaggeration to say that Gustavsberg's ceramic tradition of the 20th century originated from here. It was a centerpiece of the Swedish art and design world and served as a breeding ground for new creativity.
Each piece of G Studio's work is handmade, and there are videos showing the production process. The video shows a man wearing round glasses, designer Stig Lindberg. And on the right side you can see Willhelm Koge, who was the studio director.
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.