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.
Brown & Gold Art Deco Stoneware Lidded Box by Gunnar Nylund. ALP, Sweden, 1930s
By Rörstrand, rorstrand studio, Gunnar Nylund, ALP Lidköping 1
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful stoneware Art Deco / Swedish Grace lidded box of the highest quality. Amazing glaze with hand-painted details in gold. Designed by Gunnar Nylund for ALP (Lidköpings Porsl...
Ceramic, Stoneware
"Sailing on the Nile, " Rare Covered Art Deco Box with Egyptian Pyramids
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Striking and rare, this round covered Art Deco box depicts two traditional boats with sails on the Nile River, with two of the great Pyramids of Egypt...
Porcelain
Swedish Art Deco Bronze Lidded Box by O.H. Lagerstedt, circa 1930s
By O.H. Lagerstedt
Located in Stockholm, SE
A refined Swedish Art Deco lidded vessel in solid bronze, by O.H. Lagerstedt (J.L.H. – Joh. L. Höglund), Sweden, circa 1930s. This elegant cylindrical box features a beautifully pro...
Bronze
Swedish Art Deco Pewter Lidded Box, 1930s
By Svenskt Tenn
Located in Stockholm, SE
Elegant Swedish pewter lidded box produced by Bröderna Edlund Silverfabrik, dated 1936. This refined piece features a clean cylindrical form raised on small decorative feet, topped ...
Pewter
Neoclassical Round Box in the Style of the Wedgwood
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and rare early to mid-20th century matte white and light periwinkle blue round metal box in the Neoclassical style. The Neoclassical raised relief design around box's ext...
Metal
English Silver Plate Art Deco Style Round Shape Covered Cigarette Box
By Sheffield Silver Co.
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Here is this English silver plate art deco style round shape covered cigarette / tobacco box, a must have accessory for the discerning aficionado. This exquisite box seamlessly com...
Silver Plate
Art Deco Table Box Covered in Green Shagreen & Marked "London Made"
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco shagreen covered trinket or cigarette box with hinged lid and of rectangular form, stained green with white corners and stamped "London Made" on the bottom.
Shagreen, Wood
Stoneware Vase by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Stoneware vase in a clean form by Gunnar Nylund, the undulating rim softens the form. Vivacious blue glaze with purple streaks. Gunnar Nylund was one of the most influential ceramicists and designers of the Swedish mid-century period. He was Rörstrand’s creative leader from 1931 until 1949 and as such propelled the artistic work at the factory and served as mentor to younger artists, among them Carl-Harry Stålhane and Hertha Bengtsson. Nylund was a dedicated functionalist, who brought ideas of democratizing stoneware and creating beautiful, qualitative and affordable everyday items for the people to Rörstand in the mid-1920s. The factory had at the time lost its former leading market position, but Nylund’s efforts gave it a great reboot. He designed ceramic kitchenware...
Stoneware
19th Century Basket Box
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful 19th century food caddy basket with two compartments that are also used to serve. Turned woven bamboo with reed and wood. This type of food caddy is often associated with DIM Sum...
Bamboo, Wood
Art Deco Shagreen Covered Box with Bone Edges, Marked "London Made"
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco shagreen covered cedar box with bone edges, the snug fitting lid attached at the back with a single long stop hinge to prevent the lid falling back when open. The leather co...
Bone, Shagreen, Wood
Vintage Nautical Wood with Inlaid Brass Jewelry Box
By Jonathan Adler, R & Y Augousti
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and Minimalist Jewelry box. This rare beauty is a unique box or decorative box that brings minimal shape with organic beauty. Constructed of wood panels that have been ligh...
Brass
Chamotte stoneware vase by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand 1930s
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in Hägersten, SE
Large chamotte stoneware vase designed by Gunnar Nylund. Hand made at Rörstrand in Sweden during the 1930s. Round vase made from chamotte clay with a rustic expression. Glazed in shi...
Stoneware
Art Deco Shagreen Covered Box of Pale Green Color
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
English Art Deco cedar box of rectangular form covered in pale green shagreen with white bone edges.
Shagreen, Wood
$1,450
H 2.25 in W 5 in D 4 in
Art Deco Pale Green Shagreen Covered Box on Ball Feet and Bone Edged Lid
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pale green stained shagreen covered Art Deco box with bone trimmed hinged lid raised on ball feet. The bottom stamped "John C(?) ______(?) & Sons, LTD."
Bone, Shagreen, Wood
Gunnar Nylund, Dish / Bowl, "ASX" for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1960s
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gunnar Nylund - Dish / bowl - "ASX" for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1960s One the harder to find to find pieces by Swedish ceramist Gunnar Nylund - this tray or dish with the most beautifu...
Stoneware