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.
Group of 7 Glass "Sommerso" Vases by Strömbergshyttan, Sweden
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Beautiful set of seven "Sommerso" vases in purple and clear designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg in Sweden during the 1950s. Hand made with underlay glass technique (colored ...
Glass
$880Sale Price|20% Off
Vase Designed by Gunnar Nylund for Stromberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in CABA, AR
Introducing a striking example of mid-century modern design: the transparent glass vase with bubbles underlay, designed by Gunnar Nylund for Stromberg, Sweden, in the 1950s. This exq...
Art Glass
Vintage Italian Handmade Sommerso Murano Glass Vase
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage Italian handmade Sommerso vase created in multi-colour layers of Murano glass. The glass is clear, blue, green and pink. Signed/engraved by the author on the bottom.
Murano Glass
Midcentury Murano Sommerso Art Glass Vase by C.O.V.E.M, 1960s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Midcentury Murano sommerso art glass vase by C.O.V.E.M, 1960s A heavy Murano Sommerso art glass vase manufactured by C.O.V.E.M. (Cooperativa Vetrai Muranesi) circa 1960s. Probably a design of Flavio Poli who worked with C.O.V.E.M. in the 1950s and 1960s. Manufactured in thick clear Sommerso glass...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Sommerso Glass Vase by Flavio Poli
By Flavio Poli
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Sommerso glass vase of clear, ruby and blue colors by Flavio Poli.
Art Glass
Swedish Vase by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand ca 1950s
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Vase by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand ca 1950s Model 'ARN', first grade quality. Height: 20 cm/7.8 inch Diameter: 8 cm/3.1 inch Gunnar Nylund (1904-1997) was a renowned Swedis...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$257
H 4 in W 3.75 in D 3.25 in
Strombergshyttan Mid-Century Art Glass Crystal Vase by Gerda Stromberg c. 1960
By Strombergshyttan
Located in Atlanta, GA
Heavy "Stromberg Blue" Swedish Modern art glass vase by Gerda Stromberg for Strombergshyttan Glassworks in Sweden c. 1960. This heavy ice blue/silver hued crystal was widely known a...
Crystal
$925
H 5.19 in W 4.82 in D 4.13 in
Scandinavian Modern Swedish Modern Crystal Strombergshytt Glass Vase with Lion
By Strombergshyttan
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial Scandinavian Modern Swedish Modern Strombergshyttan crystal glass vase with regal Lion design, circa mid-20th century, Sweden. Beautiful detail in etched ...
Crystal
$169Sale Price|81% Off
H 7.88 in W 2.37 in D 1.58 in
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Sommerso Plum Art Glass Vase, 1950s
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This glass vase was manufactured in Scandinavia during the 1950s. Made of art glass in the Sommerso technique, which in Italian means immersed. This technique involves repeatedly pla...
Glass
Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand – Stoneware Vase, Sweden, 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Bergen, NO
Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand – Stoneware Vase, Sweden, 1950s A beautiful mid-century stoneware vase designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden. The piece features Nylund’s signa...
Ceramic
$452Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.63 in W 3.55 in D 5.52 in
Vintage Thick and Massive Swedish Orrefors Vase in Grey/Green Sommerso Glass
By Orrefors
Located in Milano, IT
Having started its activities in the late 1800s, and being still active today after an acquisition from Royal Denmark, Orrefors is one of the oldest surviving glassmakers in Sweden a...
Art Glass
Vintage Murano Sommerso Glass Vase by Salviati & Co., circa 1960
By Salviati, Luciano Gaspari
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A vintage art glass vase in blue and violet sommerso glass. Manufactured by Salviati & Co., Venezia. Most probably designed by Lugiano Gaspari. Company label on the base 'salviati venezia...
Art Glass
Purple White Murano Sommerso Glass Vase, Italy 1960
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sculptural Murano glass vase or centerpiece in purple hues and milk white glass, Italy, 1960s. Using the Sommerso technique the interior part is made in Opaline glass and the exterio...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Opaline Glass
Impressive Luciano Gaspari Sommerso Glass Bottle Vase
By Luciano Gaspari, Salviati
Located in Chicago, IL
Heavy Murano glass, for Salviati. Clear glass outside, amethyst inside, with orange and green stripes.
Amethyst
"Sommerso" Vases by Gunnar Nylund for Strömbergshyttan, Sweden
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Group of 5 “sommerso” type vases. Designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg. Manufactured by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden during the 1950s. Colored glass cased in clear glass techni...
Art Glass
Set of 5 Glass "Sommerso" Vases by Strömbergshyttan, Sweden
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Beautiful set of five "Sommerso" vases in purple and clear designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg in Sweden during the 1950s. Hand made with underlay glass technique. (color gl...
Glass
"Sommerso" Vases by Gunnar Nylund for Strömbergshyttan, Sweden
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Group of 5 “sommerso” type vases. Designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg. Manufactured by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden during the 1950s. Colored glass cased in clear glass techni...
Art Glass
Group of "Sommerso" Vases by Strömbergshyttan, Sweden
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Group of 5 “sommerso” type vases. Designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg. Manufactured by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden during the 1950s. Coloured glass cased in clear glass techn...
Art Glass
Set of Glass "Sommerso" Vases by Gunnar Nylund, Strömbergshyttan
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Beautiful set of three "Sommerso" vases designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg in Sweden during the 1950s. Hand made with underlay glass technique. (color glass encased in cle...
Glass
Sold
H 3.94 in Dm 3.55 in
Set of Five Underlay Glass "Sommerso" Vases by Gunnar Nylund, Strömbergshyttan
By Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Hägersten, SE
Set of five "Sommerso" vases designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg. Produced by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden during the 1950s. Hand blown with underlay glass technique. Good vin...
Art Glass
Sold
H 9.85 in Dm 5.91 in
Midcentury Modern Gunnar Nylund 8 Vases by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden, 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Wonderful art glass vases designed by famous Gunnar Nylund and produced between 1952-1955 Strömbergshyttan in Sweden. This set of 8 vases are wonderful sculptu...
Art Glass
Sold
H 11.42 in Dm 2.76 in
Midcentury Gunnar Nylund Vases Produced by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden, 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Wonderful tall glass vases designed by famous Gunnar Nylund and produced between 1952-1955 Strömbergshyttan in Sweden. This set of 2 tall vases are wonderful sculptured and with its...
Art Glass
Sold
H 10.63 in W 3.94 in D 2.37 in
Scandinavian Modern Glass Sommerso Vases by Strömbergshyttan, Sweden, 1950s
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Group of 7 “Sommerso” vases. Designed by Gunnar Nylund and Asta Strömberg. Manufactured by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden during the 1950s. Coloured glass cased in clear technique. All v...
Glass
Collection of Sommerso Vases by Gunnar Nylund, Sweden, 1950s
By Strombergshyttan, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Hägersten, SE
Set of seven "Sommerso" vases designed by Gunnar Nylund. Produced by Strömbergshyttan in Sweden during the 1950s. Done in underlay glass technique with clear glass and colored glass...
Glass
Mid Century Hand-blown Signed Ariel Vase by Gunnar Nylund
By Gunnar Nylund, Strombergshyttan
Located in Astoria, NY
A vintage hand blown glass vase with "bubble" ariel detailing by Gunnar Nylund for Strombergshyttan glassworks, Sweden. Hand engraved signature “Stromberg B948” underneath the base and original Strombergshyttan Sweden paper...
Glass