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 round cat seen from the front. Each ceramic plate was handmade one by one at Gustavsberg's atelier called G Studio in the capital Stockholm.
The UNIK series has two types of ceramic plates: a sitting cat and a round cat, and this one is the latter. It is a depiction of a cat from the front, and is notable for its strong fur, similar to a lion's mane. The front legs are carefully lined up, and the cuteness of sitting a little is also expressed in a Lisa Larson style. This is one of Lisa Larson's ceramic plates, which is one of the representative works in the UNIK series and has the highest reputation.
However, this is a white round 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.
Please refer to this product page for the regular UNIK series round cats.
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg / Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson / Lisa Larson Series name: UNIK / Unique title: Katt / Cat Year of production: 1967-1969 (estimated)
UNIK series production period: 1967-1986 Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
The wire on the back has some dirt due to age, but it can be used as a wall hanging without any problems. Penetrations can be seen on the surface. Penetration is a crack that runs on the glaze surface during firing during the manufacturing process, and is not a scratch from use or damage to the body itself. It has passed the manufacturer's inspection.
■Size
Length: 23cm Thickness: 0.7cm
Lisa Larson
Lisa Larson (1931-2024)
A world-renowned ceramic artist representing Sweden. Born in the village of Härlunda, in the Älmhult district of Kronoberg county in the Småland region of southern Sweden.
When she was young, she aspired to be a clothing designer, but after enrolling at Gothenburg University of the Arts, she studied ceramics. One day, he was discovered by Stig Lindberg at a competition, and after a one-year trial period, he officially joined Gustavsberg as a designer. Shortly after, in 1955, he announced the Lilla zoo series, and in 1964 he devised the Afrika series, famous for its lion statues.
In addition to Gustavsberg, Lisa Larsson has also provided designs for Höganäs, domestic retail giant Åhléns, and German pottery manufacturer Rosenthal. After leaving Gustavsberg in 1979, he was active in various fields while continuing his creative activities freely, taking the position of a freelance artist under a voluntary contract with a company rather than an exclusive contract. In 1979 and 1981, he held solo exhibitions at the Seibu Department Store in Tokyo, and his solo exhibition in 1981 is said to have attracted 70,000 visitors.
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.