This is a hedgehog figurine limited to 2,200 pieces, designed by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg in 1979. Lisa Larson teamed up with NK, a long-established department store in Stockholm, to release a series of ceramic statues entitled Utrotningshotade Djur (Endangered Animals), one per year for six years from 1975. A portion of the sales was donated to WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).
The series includes designs of lynx, golden eagle, grey seal, bison, hedgehog (limited to 2,200 pieces), otter, and falcon. All are limited to around 2,000 pieces, but the hedgehog is particularly popular within the series.
Although the expression appears sharp at first glance, there is a sense of rounded softness overall, creating a work that harmonizes tension and relaxation. It has a rare sense of realistic expression in Lisa Larson's style. A distinctive feature of Lisa Larson's work is the way she deforms even cats and lions, but it is clear that she has distanced herself from her own style and created endangered animals to convey their true appearance. Even so, the needles on the back are not drawn in straight lines, but rather deliberately made round, which is characteristic of Lisa Larson.
■Details Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series: Utrotningshotade Djur / Endangered Animals Title: Igelkott / Hedgehog Year: 1979 Country of Origin: Sweden Condition: Imperfect There is a small chip on one of the left hind legs. This does not detract from the appearance, but we are offering it at a great price. The rest of the item remains in its original condition. The dent on the bottom of the leg is a mark left by removing the mold used during manufacturing, not a chip. This is a characteristic of this product.
■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.
