This is a ceramic plate called the UNIK series created in 1967 by Lisa Larsson, a representative Swedish potter. Lisa Larson designed nine ceramic plates that year, including cats, birds, horses, elephants, and more. This is a drawing of a sitting cat. Each ceramic plate was handmade one by one at Gustavsberg's atelier called G Studio in the capital Stockholm.
There are two types of ceramic plates in the UNIK series: a sitting cat and a round cat, and this one is the former. This is a cute masterpiece that depicts a well-behaved cat sitting head-on, with its mouth tied in a straight line and a slightly sinister expression. Normal sitting cats have golden fur, and rare items include black-haired cats with blue eyes (Blue Eyes).
However, this is a white cat that is not listed in the catalog. It is extremely rare with a special color pattern called a unique piece. The construction on the back is quite unusual, as it has wires passed through both holes instead of the usual tongue-shaped metal fittings. This item is extremely rare among the UNIK series, and due to its rarity, I don't think it will be available in the future.
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series name: UNIK / Unique title: Katt / Cat Year: 1967-1970s (estimated)
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
The original sticker is still on the back, and the item is in perfect condition with no cracks or chips.
■Size
Length: 23cm Thickness: 0.7cm
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'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.