Lisa Larson designed the Väggplattor series for Gustavsberg in 1966. This is a rare colored ceramic tile of "Rooster (tuppfågel)." Apart from the mass-produced products, Gustavsberg also had a department called G-Studion, where famous designers such as Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larson produced artwork. This ceramic tile was handmade by artisans at G-Studion about half a century ago.
While the standard version of this piece is primarily blue , this one is a rare pale blue. To recreate the unique color, a different process was used: the entire piece is covered in iron oxide, then placed in a kiln and left in a low-oxygen environment, a process known as a reducing environment, resulting in the blue and green textures. The piece, colored with natural glaze, resembles a matcha tea bowl used in the tea ceremony. While the standard version is stamped with Lisa Larson's name on the back, this piece does not have the stamp found on mass-produced pieces, suggesting that it was produced in an environment different from the standard production line.
This ceramic tile depicts a rooster, and its shape resembles branches and leaves, creating a Cubist, modern design. This work suggests that Lisa Larson, who was in her mid-30s at the time, was searching for new creative outlets. The tile is thick and extremely heavy, weighing just under 3 kg. While many of Lisa Larson's tiles at Gustavsberg are thin, this one is approximately 3 cm thick.
The Väggplattor series includes six types of birds, including a bird facing left, a bird looking back, a pheasant, a cuckoo, a sandpiper, and a rooster.
■Details <br>Manufacturer: Gustavsberg / Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series: Väggplattor / Wall-mounted ceramic plaque Date: 1966-1975 Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
There is no notable damage and it was never used as a decoration. The wire on the back has not changed color over time, so it is in near-deadstock condition. The dent in one corner of the back is not a chip, but a slight intrusion of glaze into the dent. This was caused during the manufacturing process and the item was inspected before shipping.
■Size <br>27cm length and width, 3cm thickness
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.
