Stig Lindberg Gustavsberg Miniature
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Clay
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
Stoneware
20th Century Swedish Ceramics
20th Century Swedish Ceramics
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Serving Bowls
20th Century Serving Bowls
Mid-20th Century Swedish Ceramics
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Vintage 1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
20th Century Pottery
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Ceramics
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Stig Lindberg Gustavsberg Miniature For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Stig Lindberg Gustavsberg Miniature?
Gustavsberg for sale on 1stDibs
The Gustavsberg porcelain factory was, for many decades, the largest ceramics maker in Sweden and home to some of the most innovative and ingenious makers of the past century. The company, founded in 1825, mass-produced a wide range of products: first decorative household items and tableware in the English style and later bathroom fixtures, including the first pressed-steel bathtubs that would oust heavy cast iron. But of first interest to collectors are the remarkable decorative works created in the Gustavsberg art pottery studio, in particular those by master ceramists Wilhelm Kåge, Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg.
Gustavsberg began producing some individually crafted, highly decorated and richly glazed pieces in the 1860s. While the forms of their mass-produced vessels and plates derived from English, Continental and Asian styles, a select few painters won acclaim for their personal artistry. Gunnar Wennerberg became known for his work in the organic Art Nouveau style, and Josef Ekberg, the company’s design chief from 1908 to 1917, was revered for his expert use of iridescent lusterware glazes and the sgraffito technique, in which a decorative pattern is incised in the surface of a clay pot before it is glazed and fired.
It was not until Ekberg’s successor, Wilhelm Kåge, opened Gustavsberg’s first dedicated art pottery studio that the work became widely recognized. Kåge’s “Argenta” series, which encompasses a variety of vessels coated with an oxidized green glaze and decorated in silver motifs, remains popular. Though perhaps his most striking works are his “Surrea” vases — white bisque porcelain in off-kilter forms inspired by Cubist paintings — and his “Farsta” wares, which include totemic, spindly footed stoneware vases and bowls with textured surfaces, glazed in brown, green and blue.
Kåge’s finest protégés, Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg, took over from Kåge as Gustavsberg’s design directors in 1945. Friberg was a master potter. He threw elegant, simple, symmetrical vases and bowls painstakingly coated in layer after layer of matte glazing to achieve a classic striated effect known as “rabbit’s fur.” Lindberg’s highly collectible studio ceramics fall into two principal categories: The first is made of white porcelain pieces in round, biomorphic or stylized natural forms. The second includes weightier vases — many with textured bodies and applied decorations — glazed in deep, earthy colors. As you will see from the works on these pages, Gustavsberg was a bastion of creativity and precise artistry that turned out a remarkable range of works whose style still resonates with lovers of Scandinavian design.
A Close Look at Scandinavian-modern Furniture
Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with vintage Scandinavian modern furniture was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.
ORIGINS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged in the 1930s
- Scandinavian design and Nordic design originated primarily in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Norway
- Introduced in the United States in mid-20th century
- Informed by the Bauhaus; influenced American mid-century modernism
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries
- Use of natural materials — native woods such as pine, ash and beech
- Open, airy spaces
- Promotion of functionality
- Emphasis on craftsmanship; rooted in cabinetry profession and traditional construction techniques
- Minimal ornamentation (little to no embellishment)
- A neutral or light color palette owing to prominence of light woods
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Alvar Aalto
- Hans Wegner
- Kaare Klint
- Arne Jacobsen
- Greta Magnusson Grossman
- Finn Juhl
- Arne Vodder
- Verner Panton
ICONIC SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The gentle, organic contours that are typical of Scandinavian design appear in the furnishings and decor created by Danish, Finnish and Swedish designers not as a stylistic gesture, but rather as a practical, ergonomic — and, as importantly, elegant — response to the human form.
Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Greta Magnusson Grossman and Bruno Mathsson — creators of the classic Grasshopper lighting series and Berlin daybed, respectively — but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the 1920s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced pieces in the Scandinavian style based on influences from folklore to Cubism; his skills were passed on to his versatile and inspired pupils Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg.
Likewise, Finland produced a truly ingenious Scandinavian modern furniture designer in the architect Alvar Aalto, a master at melding function and artistic form in works like the Paimio chair, created in collaboration with his first wife, Aino. Yet Finnish glassware was pre-eminent, crafted in expressive, sculptural designs by Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva.
The Danes excelled at chairs. Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen were exemplars of the country’s facility with wood, particularly teak.
Wegner created such iconic pieces as the Round chair and the Wishbone chair; Jacobsen — while the revolutionary architect and furniture innovator produced the best-selling plywood Ant chair — designed two classic upholstered pieces of the 1950s: the Swan chair and Egg chair. The list of great Danes could go on and on, including Finn Juhl, a stylistic maverick and maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Verner Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.
Today, decades after their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight, and interior designers all over the world use their pieces to bring warmth to any given space.
On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern chairs, sofas, rugs and tables — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries.
Finding the Right Decorative-objects for You
Every time you move into a house or an apartment — or endeavor to refresh the home you’ve lived in for years — life for that space begins anew. The right home accent, be it the simple placement of a decorative bowl on a shelf or a ceramic vase for fresh flowers, can transform an area from drab to spectacular. But with so many materials and items to choose from, it’s easy to get lost in the process. The key to styling with antique and vintage decorative objects is to work toward making a happy home that best reflects your personal style.
Ceramics are a versatile addition to any home. If you’ve amassed an assortment of functional pottery over the years, think of your mugs and salad bowls as decorative objects, ideal for displaying in a glass cabinet. Vintage ceramic serveware can pop along white open shelving in your dining area, while large stoneware pitchers paired with woven baskets or quilts in an open cupboard can introduce a rustic farmhouse-style element to your den.
Translucent decorative boxes or bowls made of an acrylic plastic called Lucite — a game changer in furniture that’s easy to clean and lasts long — are modern accents that are neutral enough to dress up a coffee table or desktop without cluttering it. If you’re showcasing pieces from the past, a vintage jewelry box for displaying your treasures can spark conversation: Where is the jewelry box from? Is there a story behind it?
Abstract sculptures or an antique vessel for your home library can draw attention to your book collection and add narrative charm to the most appropriate of corners. There’s more than one way to style your bookcases, and decorative objects add a provocative dynamic. “I love magnifying glasses,” says Alex Assouline, global vice president of luxury publisher Assouline, of adding one’s cherished objects to a home library. “They are both useful and decorative. Objects really elevate libraries and can also make them more personal.”
To help with personalizing your space and truly making it your own, find an extraordinary collection of decorative objects on 1stDibs.