北欧の巨匠が夢見たアフリカ リサ・ラーソンの動物たち
This is a ceramic lion statue from the Africa series produced by Sweden's leading ceramic artist Lisa Larson at Gustavsberg in 1964. This lion statue is not a reproduction, but a valuable vintage piece produced when the product was first released.
The difference between the current reprint and the current one is in the facial expression. The vintage one has been given the texture of earth by adding a material called chamotte. The reprint has a lighter color overall and the face has a smooth texture. The reprint has a gentler expression, and the facial lines of the vintage one are basically the same, but the vintage one has a more rugged design that gives the impression of a rough expression tanned red by the African sun.
The lion statues by Lisa Larson are characterized by the fact that their body color gradually changes to yellow over time. The vintage statues currently on the market are generally yellow rather than brown, but the reproductions are brown, signifying a return to the original.
■ Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Lisa Larson Series name: Afrika
Year: 1964 Country of Origin: Sweden
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
It is in perfect condition, with no cracks, chips or crazing, and retains the original appearance from when it was made.
■Size
Height 14cm Width 12cm Depth 14.5cm
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.
