This is a tea cup and saucer from the Malva series produced in the 1960s by Gustavsberg, a long-established Scandinavian pottery manufacturer. The series name Malva means mallow or us mallow in Swedish. The same kind of mallow is a perennial plant that normally produces purple flowers. In imitation of these flowers, designer Wjörquist has decorated the entire surface with a bold red deformed floral pattern.
It is quite difficult to maintain a design with the same continuous floral pattern, but it is a simple and sophisticated piece that is typical of Scandinavian modernity, with exquisite colors and balance. The Malva was designed in 1965 and manufactured until around 1970. It is a valuable item that was originally produced in small numbers and is rarely seen in its home country of Sweden.
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Gustavsberg Designer: Karin Bjorquist Series name: Malva Year: 1965-1970 Country of origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★☆☆ (3.5: Good)
There is some slight paint loss on the sides of the cup, and the interior of the cup and saucer show signs of use when viewed under light. There are dents in the high part of the cup, but these are not chips but molding marks from the manufacturing process. There is little paint loss, and there are no cracks or chips, making it in good condition for a Malva product.
■Size
Cup width 12cm (including handle) height 6cm Capacity approx. 280ml Saucer diameter 15cm
Karin Bjorquist
Karin Bjorquist (1927-2018)
Born in the city of Saffle in Värmland County in western Sweden. Studied at Konstfack, Stockholm's art university, and joined Gustavsberg in 1950 after graduating. Initially served as an assistant to Wilhelm Koge, who was the company's art director. He stayed at Gustavsberg until 1986, during which time he invented the Indigo, Kobold, Malva, and Delicates series. The Svart Ruter series, which has diamond-shaped marks all over it, and the Vardag series, which has deep green, heavy vessels, have been long-running works.
Wjörquist's greatest work is known as Nobelservisen, which she designed to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Nobel Prize, and the tableware she designed is still used at the Nobel Prize Banquet.
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.