Rhino ceramic statue from the Zoo series designed by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg in 1966. The series name, Menagerie, is a show hut that displays imported animals. In the same series, hippopotamus, camel, cat, ghost mouse and rhino were designed. All of them are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and the motif is a rare animal with a limited habitat.
This is a rare hippopotamus figurine in the series. If you look closely, the mouth is expressed as if you are smiling with the corners of your mouth raised. The entire surface is glazed, and the size of the mouth and the plump buttocks are cute. At the time this work was created, Lisa Larson was diligently researching materials for ceramic statues, and was made using a new manufacturing method called chamotte, which has a more bare earth feel while ensuring high durability. . You can feel the texture of chamotte pottery in the texture of your feet.
■ Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg / Gustavsberg
Designer: Lisa Larson
Series name: Menageri / Zoo
Title: Flodhäst / Hippopotamus
Years: 1966-1976
Country of Origin: Sweden
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
It is in perfect condition with no cracks or cracks and the appearance at the time of production. The original seal on the left front leg has come off over time. The holes on the soles serve as air holes for firing. A hippopotamus figurine always has such a hole somewhere on the sole.
■ size
Height 8cm Width 10.5cm Depth 6cm
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.