This ceramic tile is titled "Gamla Stan" and was produced by Lisa Larson at Gustavsberg between 1963 and 1978. It has a different color pattern from the regular version and is signed by the artist on the back. The tile has a chic color tone and is made with a specially adjusted glaze. At first glance, it appears to be just a ceramic tile with a different color, but this tile is not even listed in the catalog, and is a unique piece that is rare even on a global scale.
The title of the work, "Gamla Stan," is Swedish for "Old Town," and is the common name for the oldest urban area in the center of Stockholm, the Swedish capital, which was formed around the 13th century. Gamla Stan is home to the Swedish Royal Palace and the Parliament Building, and the streets are lined with buildings that are over 500 years old, making it a major tourist attraction in Stockholm.
If you look closely, you'll see that each house has a different architectural style and color, but the colorful buildings crowded together create a mysterious townscape that harmonizes as a whole. This work captures the architectural characteristics of Gamla Stan well, such as the different heights and shapes of roofs, windows, and front doors. Gamla Stan is an ancient city that symbolizes Swedish townscapes, and was also the model for the Ghibli film "Kiki's Delivery Service."
In addition to the mass-produced products, Gustavsberg had a department called G-Studion where famous designers such as Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larson produced artworks. This is a work made in that atelier. Each piece is handmade and has the words "LISA L GUSTAVSBERG SWEDEN" engraved on the back.
■ Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series name: Väggplattor / Ceramic plate Title of work: Gamla Stan / Gamla Stan (Old Town)
Era: 1963-1978 Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
There are some areas on the edge of the back where the glaze is not applied properly. We believe that these cracks and chips were not caused by use, but occurred during manufacturing. Other than that, the item is in perfect condition and in its original condition.
■Size
Width 28.5cm Height 28cm Thickness approx. 2cm
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.