This coffee cup and saucer is from the Matilda series, designed by Lisa Larson at Gustavsberg in the 1960s. It is a cute piece with a round, raccoon-like shape. Lisa Larson's works include many ceramic plates and ceramic animal statues, but tableware designed by her is rare. Lisa Larson's tableware from the same period includes a sister product called "Josephine," and only the cup is made to follow a similar shape.
The Matilda series is the only Lisa Larson dish that has been produced as a series of dishes. Matilda includes cups, teapots, plates, sugar bowls, creamers, and candle holders in the shape of pigs.
■Details
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Series: Matilda Country of Origin: Sweden Year: 1962-1972 Condition: ★★★★☆ (3.5: Good condition)
The cup is in excellent condition with almost no signs of use. The saucer shows signs of wear when held up to the light. There are no cracks, chips or crazing, making this a good vintage item.
■Size: Diameter 16cm, Height 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.
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.