Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
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.
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Stoneware
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
1890s Regency Antique Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Fabric, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Maple
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Stoneware
19th Century French Antique Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Pine
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak
1980s American Modern Vintage Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Stoneware
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Gunnar Nylund More Furniture and Collectibles
Clay