Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

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.

Creator: Gunnar Nylund

"Perch & Angelfish, " Unique, Ambitious Art Deco Covered Urn by Nylund, Rorstrand

$2,360Sale Price|20% Off

"Perch & Angelfish, " Unique, Ambitious Art Deco Covered Urn by Nylund, Rorstrand

By Gunnar Nylund

Located in Philadelphia, PA

This ambitious, elongated urn with elaborate handles and a sunburst lid is beautifully decorated with perch on one side and angelfish on the other, all in tones of black, charcoal an...

Category

1940s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

"Grape Carriers, " Striking and Unique Art Deco Bowl w/ Wine Motif by Nylund

$2,160Sale Price|20% Off

"Grape Carriers, " Striking and Unique Art Deco Bowl w/ Wine Motif by Nylund

By Gunnar Nylund

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Depicting a Black male figure paired with a white female figure carrying clusters of grapes and ancient wine jars, this unique and striking Art Deco ...

Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Pure White And Gold, Crown Bowl Set By Gunnar Nylund For Rörstrand, Sweden

$1,650

Pure White And Gold, Crown Bowl Set By Gunnar Nylund For Rörstrand, Sweden

By Gunnar Nylund

Located in Rothley, Leicestershire

Fabulous set of three Crown bowls, designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden Beautifully crafted fine porcelain of the purest white, each decorated with bright gilded bands Bel...

Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand Porcelain Crown Window Bowl

$412

Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand Porcelain Crown Window Bowl

By Gunnar Nylund

Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire

A very stylish and finely made Swedish Rörstrand porcelain bowl the body decorated with a crown window design by Gunnar Nylund (1904-97) and dating from around 1940. The lightly made...

Category

1940s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

"Man, Woman and Horses, " Striking Art Deco Covered Urn by Nylund for Rorstrand

$4,600

"Man, Woman and Horses, " Striking Art Deco Covered Urn by Nylund for Rorstrand

By Gunnar Nylund

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Gorgeously glazed in tones of rust, sable, ivory and chocolate, this unique lidded urn with foliated pinnacle and curving handles depicts a man with upraised arms and rearing horse o...

Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Vanilla Colored Ceramic Bowl by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1930s

$482 / item

Vanilla Colored Ceramic Bowl by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1930s

By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand

Located in Barcelona, ES

Small vanilla colored Swedish Grace ceramic bowl designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1930s.

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic

"Nude with Dove, " Rare Art Deco Bowl by Nylund for Rorstrand

$1,750

"Nude with Dove, " Rare Art Deco Bowl by Nylund for Rorstrand

By Gunnar Nylund

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Before he became known for his organic forms and gorgeous glazes for the famous Rorstrand ceramic works in Sweden, Gunnar Nylund designed a line of very fine Art Deco pieces in what ...

Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Royal England Blue and White Porcelain Bowl by Wood & Son

$395 / item

H 2.25 in Dm 9.5 in

Royal England Blue and White Porcelain Bowl by Wood & Son

By Wood & Son

Located in Miami, FL

Marked "TRILBY" ROYAL SEMI-PORCELAIN WOOD & SON ENGLAND Brand: Wood & Son Style: flow blue Item: Bowl Pattern: Trilby Material: Porcelain Design:...

Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Midcentury Modern Large Ceramic Bowl Rörstrand AXK Gunnar Nylund, Sweden, 1950s

$2,109

H 6.3 in W 10.63 in D 9.45 in

Midcentury Modern Large Ceramic Bowl Rörstrand AXK Gunnar Nylund, Sweden, 1950s

By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand

Located in Hillringsberg, SE

Wonderful largest model of the AXK bowl manufactured in the 1950s at Rörstrand, designed by Gunnar Nylund. The bowl has a wonderful glaze and it lifts the shape of the bowl to a won...

Category

1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic

Group of White Ceramics by Nylund & Stålhane - Rörstrand - Midcentury Modern

$3,977 / set

H 7.09 in Dm 3.94 in

Group of White Ceramics by Nylund & Stålhane - Rörstrand - Midcentury Modern

By Carl-Harry Stålhane, Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Stockholm, SE

A group of six pieces of stoneware vases & one bowl with stunning white glazes designed by Gunnar Nylund and Carl-Harry Stålhane at Rörstrand in the 1950s. The vases are between 9 -...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

White Stoneware Vase - Gunnar Nylund - Rörstrand - Midcentury Vintage

$771

H 6.3 in Dm 4.14 in

White Stoneware Vase - Gunnar Nylund - Rörstrand - Midcentury Vintage

By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Stockholm, SE

A lovely white vase with a stunning egg shell speckled glaze designed by Gunnar Nylund at Rörstrand, the vase is 16 cm tall. It is in excellent condition and marked as 1st quality. ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Stoneware, Ceramic

Art Deco Vase by Ilse Claesson, Rörstrand, Green and Black, 1930s

$650Sale Price|20% Off

H 8.67 in Dm 5.52 in

Art Deco Vase by Ilse Claesson, Rörstrand, Green and Black, 1930s

By Ilse Claussen, Rörstrand

Located in Stockholm, SE

A lovely vase designed by Ilse Claesson in the 1930s at Rörstrand, Sweden. It is 22 cm high and in very good condition except from some craquelure in the glaze because of the age.

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

A Blue Vintage Ceramic Bowl - Gunnar Nylund - Rörstrand Sweden 1950s

$252

H 1.97 in W 2.96 in D 3.94 in

A Blue Vintage Ceramic Bowl - Gunnar Nylund - Rörstrand Sweden 1950s

By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Stockholm, SE

A blue/gray bowl in ceramics, it is designed by Gunnar Nylund at Rörstrand, the bowl is 10 x 7.5 cm (4" x 3") in diameter. It´s in excellent condition except from a tiny mark on the ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Large and Very Rare Purple Urn Gunnar Nylund - Rörstrand - Scandinavian Modern

$1,374

H 13 in Dm 8.27 in

Large and Very Rare Purple Urn Gunnar Nylund - Rörstrand - Scandinavian Modern

By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Stockholm, SE

A really rare stoneware urn designed by Gunnar Nylund at Rörstrand. It is 33 cm (13.2") tall and in excellent condition except from a minor surface crack below. It is marked as the p...

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic

A Black & Green Vintage Ceramic Bowl - Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand Midcentury Modern

$331

H 3.15 in W 4.93 in D 6.3 in

A Black & Green Vintage Ceramic Bowl - Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand Midcentury Modern

By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand

Located in Stockholm, SE

A black & green/brown bowl in ceramics, it is designed by Gunnar Nylund at Rörstrand, the bowl is 16 x 12.5 cm (6" x 5") in diameter. It´s in excellent condition except from some sma...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Daisy Makeig-Jones Wedgwood Blue Lustre Hummingbird Decorative Bowl

$1,050

H 2.75 in Dm 5.5 in

Daisy Makeig-Jones Wedgwood Blue Lustre Hummingbird Decorative Bowl

By Wedgwood, Daisy Makeig-Jones

Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

A Wedgwood blue lustre bowl decorated with hummingbirds, designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones circa 1920. Daisy Makeig-Jones’s lustreware provided respite from the horrors of World War I...

Category

1920s English Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Collection of 3 Ceramic Vessels by Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand Sweden, 1950s

$2,832 / set

H 9.45 in Dm 3.55 in

Collection of 3 Ceramic Vessels by Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand Sweden, 1950s

By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand

Located in Hillringsberg, SE

We have curated a group of stunning pieces of ceramics made in Sweden during the 1950s. These pieces have been gathered and put together by us, carefully sorted and now ready to be g...

Category

1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic

Henri Delcourt French Art Deco Porcelain Figural Bonbonnerie

$660

H 7.29 in Dm 3.94 in

Henri Delcourt French Art Deco Porcelain Figural Bonbonnerie

By Henri Delcourt Boulogne

Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire

A scarce and finely made French art deco porcelain lidded bonbonnerie formed as a flapper girl dating from around 1930. The bonbonnerie is of...

Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Daisy Makeig-Jones Wedgwood Ruby Lustre Decorative Bowl

$1,150

H 2.75 in Dm 6.25 in

Daisy Makeig-Jones Wedgwood Ruby Lustre Decorative Bowl

By Daisy Makeig-Jones, Wedgwood

Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

A Wedgwood ruby lustre bowl decorated with gilded butterflies, designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones circa 1915. Delicately gilded butterflies decorate this bowl's exterior atop a deep ru...

Category

1910s English Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Previously Available Items

White Matte Porcelain Vase with Bubbles Cloud Rosenthal, Germany

Sold

H 10.24 in Dm 7.88 in

White Matte Porcelain Vase with Bubbles Cloud Rosenthal, Germany

By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Stockholm, SE

A lovely white porcelain vase with a matte glaze designed at Rosenthal. The vase has a lovely shape, like a cloud or bubbles. It is 26 cm high and in excellent condition.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Dog Figurine in Porcelain by Gunnar Nylund

Sold

H 4.34 in W 7.88 in D 2.76 in

Dog Figurine in Porcelain by Gunnar Nylund

By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Berlin, BE

Dog Figurine in porcelain by Gunnar Nylund Porcelain figurine from Rörstrand. Additional information: Material: Porcelain Artist: Gunnar Nylund Size: 20.0 H cm.

Category

1950s Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century Modern White Porcelain Bowl by Gunnar Nylund

Sold

H 2.96 in Dm 4.18 in

Mid-Century Modern White Porcelain Bowl by Gunnar Nylund

By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Courbevoie, FR

Mid-Century Modern bowl by Gunnar Nylund for Rorstrand. CANDIA KRONSKAL collection.

Category

1960s European Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Set of Eight Porcelain Crown Bowls by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand

Sold

H 3.55 in Dm 7.09 in

Rare Set of Eight Porcelain Crown Bowls by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand

By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund

Located in Krefeld, DE

Gunnar Nylund was a Swedish ceramist. He was born 1904 in Paris where his parents studied. His mother was a Danish artist and his father a finish Swedish sculptor. 1907 they moved to...

Category

1940s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Swedish porcelain vases by Berndt Friberg and Gunnar Nylund

Sold

H 13 in

Swedish porcelain vases by Berndt Friberg and Gunnar Nylund

By Berndt Friberg, Gunnar Nylund

Located in New York, NY

Beautiful grouping of vases in light blues and eggshell white by Swedens Gunnar Nylund and Berndt Friberg.

Category

Swedish Gunnar Nylund Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain, Stoneware

Gunnar Nylund porcelain for sale on 1stDibs.

Gunnar Nylund porcelain are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gunnar Nylund porcelain, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original porcelain by Gunnar Nylund were created in the Art Deco style in sweden during the mid-20th century. Prices for Gunnar Nylund porcelain can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $412 and can go as high as $4,600, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,275.

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