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 Gunnar Nylund, rorstrand studio, Rörstrand, 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
Gunnar Nylund, Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1940s
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed stoneware vase designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s.
Stoneware
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
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
Lovely Lidded Art Deco Ceramic Box 1930s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Lovely Lidded Art Deco Ceramic Box 1930s This is a wonderful lidded ceramic art deco box. Great design and lovely colors - a true modernist piece with a lot of elegance. Would be gr...
Pottery
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
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
Chinese Checkered Papier-Mâché Box
Located in Chicago, IL
Formed around a simple wooden frame, this papier-mâché storage box is a charming example of Chinese folk art. Crafted with old newspapers and dyed rice paper, the box would have been...
Paper
Vintage Organic Modern Rare Thuya Wood Trinket Box
By Jonathan Adler, R & Y Augousti
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and Minimalist trinket box. This rare beauty is a unique trinket box or decorative box that brings minimal shape with organic beauty. Constructed of Thuya wood that has bee...
Wood
Silver-plated Art Deco Trinket Box with Egyptian Motifs
Located in Poperinge, BE
A unique Art Deco chest, perfect as a jewelry or trinket box. Decorated with Egyptian motifs in bas-relief, the top depicts a hunting scene with a chariot drawn by horses, reminiscen...
Brass
Gunnar Nylund, Dish, Stoneware, Sweden, 1940s
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in High Point, NC
A blue-glazed stoneware dish designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, c. 1940s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 2.75"H x 10.45"W ...
Stoneware
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
Art Deco Pewter Lidded Box by Sylvia Stave for CG Hallberg, Sweden, 1930s
By Sylvia Stave, CG Hallberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A refined Art Deco pewter lidded box designed by Sylvia Stave for CG Hallberg, Sweden, circa 1930. This elegant piece exemplifies Stave’s distinctive modernist sensibility, combining...
Pewter
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