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.
Swedish ceramic floor lamp "Rubus" series by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand 1960.
By Röstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Adorable, iconic Scandinavian "Rubus" table lamp designed by Swedish ceramic artist and designer Gunnar Nylund. This lovely glazed ceramic lamp features warm, soft, brown tones inspi...
Ceramic
$1,052
H 7.09 in Dm 4.22 in
Small Brown Ceramic Table Lamp by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s.
By Rörstrand, rorstrand studio, Gustavsberg, Gunnar Nylund, Carl-Harry Stålhane
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful mid-century stoneware table lamp with amazing glaze Made by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s. Great original condition. Signed 'G.N.' and makers mark 'R'. So...
Stoneware, Ceramic
Swedish Stoneware Table Lamp by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful table lamp by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, in a beautiful plump, apple form with a cylinder neck. Vibrant celadon green glaze with “Mimosa” pattern.
Brass
Large table lamp “Rubus”, Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Large-scale Swedish stoneware lamp, model Rubus, designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand in the 1940s. A sculptural and expressive design within Swedish modern, characterized by its ...
Stoneware, Teak
$2,495
H 8.86 in W 7.29 in D 4.14 in
Gunnar Nylund, Blue Triangular Stoneware Table Lamp for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
By Gustavsberg, Carl-Harry Stålhane, Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund, rorstrand studio
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful mid-century stoneware table lamp with amazing glaze. Made by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s. Great original condition. No chips, cracks or crazing. Signed ma...
Ceramic, Stoneware
A Chamotte Ceramic Table Lamp by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in New York, NY
A small, course-glazed table lamp designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand. The lamp base made of chamotte stoneware, glazed in a rich turquoise color. Price includes new wiring, lamp...
Ceramic
$2,905
H 21.26 in Dm 11.82 in
Modernist stoneware table lamp by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful table lamp by Gunnar Nylund, made from stoneware. Base with an embossed draped design, glazed celadon green. Gunnar Nylund was one of the most influential ceramicists and ...
Stoneware
Gunnar Nylund, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Rörstrand, Sweden 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in High Point, NC
A blue-glazed stoneware and brass table lamp, designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 11.1875” Height x 5.0” Diameter Dimen...
Brass
Gunnar Nylund 'Rubus' Ceramic Table Lamp Rörstrand, Sweden, 1965
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking table lamp was designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced in Sweden in the 1960s. Nylund, renowned for designing many classics for the Swedish ceramic factory Rörstrand, cr...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Fabric
Table Lamp "Chamotte" by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Göteborg, SE
The Gunnar Nylund Stoneware "Chamotte" Table Lamp in Mustard, crafted for Rörstrand, is a stunning example of mid-century Scandinavian design at its finest. Designed by the renowned ...
Ceramic, Clay
$1,115
H 13.78 in Dm 7.88 in
Gunnar Nylund Rubus Table Lamp for Rörstrand Sweden Scandinavian Modern Ceramic
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Ceramic table lamp by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden. It's part of the "Rubus" series and was designed and made in the 1950s-1960s. It has a structured, tactile surface with sem...
Ceramic, Fabric
$3,169
H 13.39 in Dm 4.53 in
Gunnar Nylund, Blue Speckled Stoneware Table Lamp for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
By Carl-Harry Stålhane, Gustavsberg, Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand, rorstrand studio
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful mid-century stoneware table lamp with amazing glaze. Made by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s. Great original condition. Signed 'G.N.' and makers mark 'R'. S...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$1,995
H 16.74 in Dm 10.24 in
Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand Rubus Table Lamp with Shade, Scandinavian Sweden 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund, Carl-Harry Stålhane, Saxbo, Rörstrand, Arne Bang
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Tall ceramic table lamp by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden. It´s part of the "Rubus" series and was designed and made in the 1950s to 1960s. The lamp has a structured, tactile s...
Ceramic, Fabric
Sold
H 43.51 in Dm 11.82 in
Gunnar Nylund 'Rubus' Stoneware Floor/ Large Table Lamp Rörstrand, Sweden, 1960s
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking floor or large table lamp was designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced in Sweden in the 1960s. Nylund, renowned for designing many classics for the Swedish ceramic factor...
Stoneware, Fabric
Pair of Table Lamps by Gunnar Nylund, Sweden, 1960s
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of cool table lamps by Gunnar Nylund, with stoneware bases from the series “Sintra”. The series was introduced in 1965 and drew inspiration from Danish midcentury stoneware desi...
Brass