This hedgehog figurine was designed by Lisa Larson in 1979 for Gustavsberg and is limited to 2,200 pieces. Lisa Larsson partnered with NK, a long-established department store in Stockholm, to release a series of ceramic sculptures entitled Utrotningshotade Djur (Endangered Animals), one each year, for six years starting in 1975. A portion of the sales is donated to WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).
The series includes designs of a lynx, a golden eagle, a gray seal, a bison, a hedgehog (limited to 2,200 pieces), an otter, and a peregrine falcon. All of them are limited to around 2000 pieces, but this hedgehog is one of the most popular in the series.
Although it has a sharp expression at first glance, it has a rounded softness overall, making it a work that harmonizes tension and relaxation. There is a sense of realistic expression, which is rare in Lisa Larson's style. Lisa Larson's work is characterized by the fact that she deforms even cats and lions, but she maintains a certain distance from her own style by modeling endangered animals in a way that conveys their true appearance. I can tell. Even so, the needles on the back are not drawn in a straight line, but are intentionally rounded, which gives a sense of Lisa Larson.
■Details Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series name: Utrotningshotade Djur / Endangered species Title: Igelkott / Hedgehog Year: 1979 Country of origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★★★ ( 5: Completed)
This is a complete item in its original condition. There are stretch marks caused by the manufacturing process at the base of the legs on the back. This item is under the glaze, so it is not a scratch from use, but a scratch caused during firing. The dents seen on the soles of the feet are not chips, but dents called ``thread soles'' that occur when the pottery is separated from the potter's wheel.
■Size Width 12cm Depth 16cm Height 10cm
Gustavsberg
Gustavsberg is a long-established Swedish pottery manufacturer founded in 1825. For more information on the history of the company , please see this article♪ The company produced bathtubs and other housing equipment, but from the late 19th century onward, they focused on producing artistic ceramics, and their name became widely known. I did. Known for its simple and beautiful designs with motifs of nature and folklore, it is a manufacturer that led Scandinavian design in the 20th century.
It produced many outstanding artists such as Lisa Larsson and Stig Lindberg, and was a central figure in the ``Mid-Century'' art movement of the mid-20th century in Northern Europe. Even today, it is highly praised for its high artistry, technical ability, and unique design that evokes the Nordic climate.
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.