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.
Scandinavian Modern Bronze Sundial by Gunnar Nylund, 1940s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful sundial by Gunnar Nylund, made from bronze with great pale green patina. Decor of zodiac signs on the base in Nylund’s characteristic style. Gunnar Nylund was one of the m...
Bronze
$1,400 / set
Gunnar Nylund Ceramic Planters
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in New York, NY
Gunnar Nylund (1904-1977) Ceramic Planters circa. 1930. Made with lattice design work and stamped with a production seal at the bottom.
Ceramic
Reclaimed Armillary Sundial on Limestone Pedestal
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
This reclaimed armillary sundial is a handsome focal point for a walled garden or courtyard. The sundial features a steel garden armillary sphere dating from the late 20th century ab...
Limestone, Stone, Steel
Antique Georgian Style Armillary Garden Sundial
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A striking antique Georgian style armillary sundial featuring an unusual 20th century armillary sphere mounted upon a beautifully weathered Georgian era red sandstone column plinth. ...
Sandstone, Steel
1970s Gainey Mustard Yellow Glazed Ceramic Planter
By Gainey Pottery
Located in Glendale, CA
1970s Gainey Mustard Yellow Glazed Ceramic Planter. Executed in matte mustard yellow glazed ceramic. A very clean and increasingly rare example attributed to iconic ceramics manufac...
Ceramic
1970s Gainey Mustard Yellow Glazed Ceramic Planter
By Gainey Pottery
Located in Glendale, CA
1970s Gainey Mustard Yellow Glazed Ceramic Planter. Executed in matte mustard yellow glazed ceramic. A very clean and increasingly rare example attributed to iconic ceramics manufac...
Ceramic
California Design Ceramic Planter by Gainey
By Gainey Pottery
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice California design 8" ceramic planter by Gainey of LaVerne, California, circa 1960s. The planter is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks, has a footed ba...
Ceramic
Raul Coronel Ceramic Planter for Architectural Pottery
By Architectural Pottery, Raul Coronel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Raul Coronel Ceramic Planter for Architectural Pottery
Ceramic
Vintage Boho Glazed Ceramic Planter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Introduce eclectic charm to your home with the American style Vintage Boho Glazed Ceramic Planter. This beautifully crafted planter features a v...
Ceramic
MCM Footed Ceramic Planter by Haeger
By Haeger
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice MCM footed ceramic planter by Haeger, circa 1960s. The planter is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 8"D x 3.25"H and has a nice medium w...
Ceramic
Bronze Sundial on Stoneware Baluster with Square Base
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
fleurdetroit offers for your consideration: This eternally functioning timepiece is a beautifully weathered 20th century sundial. Sitting atop a beautiful stoneware baluster, this v...
Bronze
$2,950
H 11.45 in W 13.5 in D 4 in
Antique Victorian English Medieval Styled Solid Bronze Architectural Sundial
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Presumably having English origins, this antique solid bronze sundial is ornately cast with a series of Medieval figures across the top portion and standing in the facade of an arched...
Bronze
$16,003
H 44.69 in W 26.19 in D 26.38 in
Antique Marble and Bronze Noonday Cannon Sundial with Terracotta Pedestal
By Alexandre Louis Chevalier de Marolles de Lucé
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique marble and bronze noonday cannon sundial by Louis Marie Arthur Chevalier (1830-1874). Noonday Cannon Sundial This sundial is inscribed ‘CONSTRUIT PAR ARTHUR CHEVALIER PALAIS’. It is based on a noonday cannon commissioned by the Sun King, Louis XIV, for the gardens of Versaille. This miniature bronze cannon...
Marble, Bronze
Antique York Stone Sundial of Baluster Shape
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An English carved York limestone sundial of baluster shape, fitted with its original slate sundial plate and bronze gnomon. Various fine inscriptions are etched into the slate plate,...
Stone, Metal, Bronze