This large, one-of-a-kind flower vase was created by Lisa Larson in Gustavsberg. Its entire surface is covered with blue flowers, likely dayflowers. The uneven lines visible across the entire surface vividly bear the imprint of Lisa Larson's hand. While the piece may appear substantial at first glance, it is light in the hand, and is relatively thin for a flower vase by Lisa Larson, giving it an elegant form. The overall form has an atmosphere similar to Japanese pottery, and this piece dates back to a period when Lisa Larson's work was influenced by Japanese pottery.
Lisa Larson visited Japan as a Swedish representative at the Osaka Expo in 1970. During this time, she interacted with Hamada Shoji, a potter known for his role in the Japanese Mingei movement. Even before that, at Gustavsberg, where Lisa Larson was a member, legendary designer Wilhelm Kåge brought back ceramic works from various countries during his travels around the world, including Japanese ceramics. As a young artist, Lisa Larson had the opportunity to come into contact with Japanese ceramics at Kåge's workshop held at the Gustavsberg studio.
This piece conveys the fact that Japanese design had a major influence on Lisa Larson's inspiration around the 1970s. Lisa Larson is known as a world-famous ceramic artist, but her fame is not from faraway Scandinavia, but rather shows that she had a strong connection to Japan. This is a rare piece that is not only of excellent quality, but also evokes the connection between Japanese pottery and Lisa Larson's creative journey.
The bottom is engraved with the hand mark of Gustavsberg's G Studio atelier and LISA L GUSTAVSBERG SWEDEN, indicating that it is a unique piece.
■Detailed specifications
Designer: Lisa Larson
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg
Year: Late 1960s to early 1970s (estimated)
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
There are no cracks or chips, and the piece is in perfect condition, retaining its original appearance. It has never been used as a flower vase.
■Size
Diameter 14cm Height 20.5cm
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.
