This is a deep plate from the Växjö series produced from the 19th century to the early 20th century by Gustavsberg, a representative Swedish pottery manufacturer. Gustavsberg was founded in 1826 and mainly manufactured furniture and ceramic bathtubs. The series name Wexiö refers to Växjö, a city in southern Sweden that was one of the largest cities in the 19th century. At the time, many works were created in Gustavsberg that were named after place names, and this is one of a series of works created in Gustavsberg.
The designer was Arvid Ekberg (1848-1906), who worked as a designer at Gustavsberg with his half-brother Josef Ekberg (1877-1945). Josef was the art director of Gustavsberg, one generation before Wilhelm Koge, and was a central figure in the Gustavsberg company in the early 20th century.
Växjö is an elegant vessel with blue-green flowers, small birds and butterflies, and gold-plated edges. This series was produced over a long period of time, spanning over half a century from 1887 to 1939, and we can see that it was highly regarded by the public for its ease of use and high quality. The series name Wexiö is engraved on the back stamp, but if you look through it under the light, you can see the back stamp Gustafsberg OPAK next to it.
This stamp was used in Gustavsberg for 20 years, from 1890 to 1910. A distinctive feature of backstamps from this era is that, unlike the current spelling, it is written as Gusta"f"sberg, where v becomes f.
Check out our blog post for more information about backstamps.
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustafsberg / Gustafsberg Series: Wexiö / Designer: Arvid Ekberg / Arvid Ekberg Year: 1887-1910 Country of Origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★★☆ (4: Good condition)
Although there are some slight scratches on the surface that shows through to the light, it is in beautiful condition, preserving its appearance from the 19th century.
■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.