Gunnar Nylund, Pitcher, Brown and Blac-Glazed Stoneware, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Gunnar Nylund (Sculptor),Rörstrand (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 12.68 in (32.21 cm)Diameter: 3.87 in (9.83 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:High Point, NC
- Reference Number:
Rörstrand
Before Rörstrand and its contemporaries introduced ceramic serveware to Europe, people primarily ate off of metal plates. The Swedish ceramics company was pivotal in bringing porcelain from China to the Western world, and today, vintage Rörstrand ceramics are highly prized by collectors.
The company began in 1726 at Rörstrand Castle in Stockholm, under the direction of master porcelain maker Johann Wolff. Early works bore no stamp or seal to mark their origin, as the company had no competitors at the time. Once competing companies made inroads into the porcelain market, Rörstrand began to stamp its products.
With the rising demand for ceramic tableware, Rörstrand pieces filled the cabinets in the houses of the nobility, royalty and the social elite of Sweden and surrounding nations. The 1800s saw many technological advances for the company, as it began using steam presses to emboss patterns into material. The 20th century brought the company to international markets after it presented its Art Nouveau pieces at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris.
As Sweden was a neutral country during the world wars, Rörstrand was able to continue producing, whereas other companies shut down or shifted to making items for the war effort. Swedish artist-designer Gunnar Nylund created his most famous works — warm-toned matte-glazed Art Deco stoneware and more — while employed by Rörstrand. During the 1950s, Rorstrand brought on master porcelain maker Marianne Westman, lovingly referred to as “the Porcelain Mother.” Her design, the Rörstrand Mon Amie, became one of the company’s leading sellers. It was among many popular designs that she and her team developed. Westman continued with the company through the 1960s when it brought on other notable talents, such as designer Inger Persson.
In 1976, the company celebrated 250 years, and the Rörstrand Museum opened in Lidköping, holding over 15,000 pieces created by the historic ceramics manufacturer.
With almost 300 years of history, Rörstrand has survived numerous shifts in culture and design preferences, maintaining its heritage style, while smoothly adapting to new trends. With each decade, the company has debuted new designs, glazes, patterns and technologies, bringing new innovations and intriguing twists to traditional work.
Find vintage Rörstrand serveware, decorative objects, lighting and more on 1stDibs.
Gunnar Nylund
Swedish artist-designer Gunnar Nylund — who worked at iconic porcelain manufacturer Rörstrand for decades — was never satisfied with the status quo. He played with organic shapes, rich colors and dazzling patterns to create some of the most exquisite ceramic and porcelain sculptures, vessels and other furnishings and decor of the 20th century.
Born in Paris to artists Fernanda Jacobsen-Nylund and Felix Nylund, Gunnar lived in Finland as a child but when the Finnish Civil War broke out in 1918, he moved with his mother to her native Denmark. He initially pursued architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts but cut his schooling short when he accepted a position at the Bing & Grøndahl porcelain factory, where he worked for artist Paul Gauguin’s son, Jean, for several years, creating a range of stoneware pieces.
Dissatisfied with the factory's traditional approach to art, Nylund moved on from Bing & Grøndahl and sought to create works in a modernist style. In 1929, Nylund and chemist Nathalie Krebs opened their own ceramics workshop called Saxbo in Saxbo, Denmark. The company’s works garnered praise at a Svenskt Tenn exhibition, and the prestigious Swedish manufacturer Rörstrand offered Nylund a position as creative director.
While he later worked for Nymolle Ceramic Factory in Denmark for a short period, Nylund produced his most famous works while employed by Rörstrand. Fresh ideas and methods intrigued Nylund and he was always eager to try new techniques at the manufacturer. He worked in the Art Deco style, creating warm-toned matte-glazed stoneware sculptures and ceramic tableware that are devoid of lavish ornamentation. Later, he crafted numerous figurines and highly stylized animal sculptures. Nylund’s work can be found at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Designmuseum Denmark and elsewhere.
Find vintage Gunnar Nylund serveware, sculptures and vessels on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: West Palm Beach, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Gunnar Nylund, Pitcher, Brown Stoneware, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950sBy Gunnar Nylund, RörstrandLocated in High Point, NCA brown stoneware pitcher produced by Rörstrands, Sweden, 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware
- Gunnar Nylund, Stoneware Pitcher, Rörstand, Sweden, 1940sBy Rörstrand, Gunnar NylundLocated in High Point, NCA sizable stoneware pitcher produced by Rörstrands, Sweden, 1940s. Designed and signed by Gunnar Nylund, (Swedish, 1914-1997). Nylund served as artistic director at Rörstrands, wh...Category
Vintage 1940s European Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware
- Gunnar Nylund, Pitcher, Green-Glazed Stoneware, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950sBy Gunnar Nylund, RörstrandLocated in High Point, NCA green, glazed stoneware pitcher designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, c. 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Pitchers
MaterialsStoneware
- Gunnar Nylund, Vase, Brown Glazed Stoneware, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950sBy Gunnar Nylund, RörstrandLocated in High Point, NCA vase or vessel produced by Rörstrands, Sweden, 1950s. Designed by Gunnar Nylund, (Swedish, 1914-1997). Signed. Nylund served as artistic director at Rörstrands, where he worked ...Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsStoneware
- Gunnar Nylund, Vase, Brown-Glazed Stoneware, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950sBy Gunnar Nylund, RörstrandLocated in High Point, NCA brown-glazed stoneware vase designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsStoneware
- Gunnar Nylund, Pitcher, Stoneware, Sweden, 1940sBy Rörstrand, Gunnar NylundLocated in High Point, NCA stoneware pitcher designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s.Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Pitchers
MaterialsStoneware
- Vase in Blue-Glazed Stoneware by Gunnar Nylund, Sweden, 1950sBy Gunnar Nylund, RörstrandLocated in Praha 2, Hlavní město PrahaVase in blue-glazed stoneware designed and signed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrands in Sweden, 1950s. Date of manufacture: 1950s Origin: Sweden Material: blue-glazed stone...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware
- Brown Stoneware Vase Designed by Gunnar Nylund, 1950sBy Gunnar Nylund, RörstrandLocated in Hägersten, SEStoneware vase designed by Gunnar Nylund. Hand made at Rörstrand in the 1940s. Glaze with burnt brown tones. Very good vintage condition with light wear and patina. Dimensions: H....Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware
- Stoneware sculpture designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950sBy Rörstrand, Gunnar NylundLocated in Stockholm, SESculpture designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s. Stoneware. Signed.Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware
- Stoneware Floor Vase by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950sBy Gunnar Nylund, RörstrandLocated in Hägersten, SELarge floor vase designed by Gunnar Nylund. Rare model and the largest that was designed by Nylund and serially produced by Rörstrand during the 1950s. Rare polychrome glaze shifting...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
MaterialsStoneware
- Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand Vase 1950s SwedenBy Rörstrand, Gunnar NylundLocated in Farsta, SEGunnar Nylund (1904-1997) was a renowned Swedish ceramic artist and designer known for his significant contributions to the field of ceramic art and pottery. He was a prominent figur...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware
- Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand Vase 1950s SwedenBy Rörstrand, Gunnar NylundLocated in Farsta, SEGunnar Nylund (1904-1997) was a renowned Swedish ceramic artist and designer known for his significant contributions to the field of ceramic art and pottery. He was a prominent figur...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
MaterialsStoneware