This is a statue of a girl having a bath, created by Lisa Larson in 1990. It depicts a girl soaking in a bathtub. From 1991 onwards, this piece was produced for a time at K Studio, Gustavsberg's in-house atelier. However, for reasons that are unclear, it was not mass-produced and has since been discontinued. Although it is palm-sized, it is probably a size larger than K Studio's other ceramic statues, so it is likely that the firing times in the kiln were different and it would have taken more effort to produce it separately.
After leaving Gustavsberg in 1980, Lisa Larson set up her own studio in Ugglevägen, a suburb of Stockholm. This studio could be considered the precursor to Keramikstudion Gustavsberg (K Studio), which she would later return to and found.
Pieces made at this time are notable for not having a manufacturer's mark, and only have a simple name engraved on the bottom, so it was probably made in 1990, before K Studio was established. Among the many ceramic statues by Lisa Larson, this is a rare piece that has not been resold and is therefore rarely circulated on the market.
■Detailed specifications
Designer: Lisa Larson / Lisa Larson Date: 1990 (estimated)
Country of origin: Sweden
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
It is in perfect condition with no cracks, chips or crazing, and retains the original appearance from the time of production.
■Size
Height 12cm, width 6cm, depth 7cm (maximum)
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.
