This deep dish is from the Växjö series, produced by Gustavsberg, a leading Swedish pottery manufacturer, from the 19th century to the early 20th century. Gustavsberg was founded in 1826 and mainly manufactured fixtures and ceramic bathtubs. The series name Wexiö refers to the city of Växjö in southern Sweden, which was one of the largest cities in the 19th century. Many pieces named after places in Gustavsberg at the time were produced, and this is one of those series.
The designer was Arvid Ekberg (1848-1906), who worked as a designer at Gustavsberg together with his half-brother Josef Ekberg (1877-1945). Josef was the art director at Gustavsberg one generation before Wilhelm Kåge, and was a central figure at the Gustavsberg company in the early 20th century.
Wexiö is a classy piece of tableware with blue-green floral motifs, small birds and butterflies, and gold-plated edges. The series was produced for over half a century, from 1887 to 1939, and its ease of use and high quality were highly regarded by the public. The backstamp is engraved with the series name, Wexiö, and next to it you can see the backstamp Gustafsberg OPAK when you hold it up to the light.
This stamp was used by Gustavsberg for 20 years, from 1890 to 1910. A distinctive feature of the backstamps from this period is that it reads Gusta"f"sberg, with an f instead of a v, unlike the current spelling.
For more information on backstamps, check out our blog post .
■ Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustafsberg Series: Wexiö Designer: Arvid Ekberg Year: 1887-1910 Country of origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★★☆ (4: Excellent condition)
Although there are slight scratches on the surface when viewed through the light, the item is in excellent condition and retains its original 19th century appearance.
■Size
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.