This is a unique cylindrical flower vase made by Lisa Larson in Gustavsberg. The opening is bulging like a bamboo joint, and the glaze that covers the whole piece is a gradation of indigo and dark brown. At first glance, it has the feel of Japanese pottery.
Lisa Larson first came to Japan in 1970 as Sweden's representative at the Osaka Expo, where she had contact with Shoji Hamada, a potter known for his involvement in the Japanese Mingei movement. She had also been exposed to many Japanese ceramic works brought back by Vilhelm Kåge, a legendary designer at Gustavsberg, where she had previously worked. Lisa Larson's inspiration is undoubtedly influenced by Japanese design.
This work is a novel that Lisa Larson invented later in life. This is not a chamotte stoneware vase, but a regular ceramic vase. If the indigo blue glaze were green, it would be mistaken for Shigaraki ware, as it has a strong affinity with Japanese pottery. The cylindrical body is very large and heavy, but the narrow joints around the mouth give the piece a lightness and sharpness.
This is a one-of-a-kind piece by Lisa Larson, a world-renowned artist who combines Japanese pottery with Swedish art. It is a beautifully crafted flower vase that is also historically valuable as it gives a glimpse into the creative process of Lisa Larson.
The bottom is hand-signed by Lisa Larson and signed "Lisa Larson Studio Gustavsberg Sweden".
■ Detailed specifications
Designer: Lisa Larson
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg
Era: Late 1960s to early 1970s (estimated)
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
There are no cracks or chips, and it is in perfect condition, retaining its original appearance. It has never been used as a flower vase.
■Size
Top diameter 5.5cm Height 21cm Bottom diameter 12.5cm
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.