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Gustavsberg

The Gustavsberg porcelain factory was, for many decades, the largest ceramics maker in Sweden and home to some of the most innovative and ingenious makers of the past century. The company, founded in 1825, mass-produced a wide range of products: first decorative household items and tableware in the English style and later bathroom fixtures, including the first pressed-steel bathtubs that would oust heavy cast iron. But of first interest to collectors are the remarkable decorative works created in the Gustavsberg art pottery studio, in particular those by master ceramists Wilhelm Kåge, Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg

Gustavsberg began producing some individually crafted, highly decorated and richly glazed pieces in the 1860s. While the forms of their mass-produced vessels and plates derived from English, Continental and Asian styles, a select few painters won acclaim for their personal artistry. Gunnar Wennerberg became known for his work in the organic Art Nouveau style, and Josef Ekberg, the company’s design chief from 1908 to 1917, was revered for his expert use of iridescent lusterware glazes and the sgraffito technique, in which a decorative pattern is incised in the surface of a clay pot before it is glazed and fired. 

It was not until Ekberg’s successor, Wilhelm Kåge, opened Gustavsberg’s first dedicated art pottery studio that the work became widely recognized. Kåge’s “Argenta” series, which encompasses a variety of vessels coated with an oxidized green glaze and decorated in silver motifs, remains popular. Though perhaps his most striking works are his “Surrea” vases — white bisque porcelain in off-kilter forms inspired by Cubist paintings — and his “Farsta” wares, which include totemic, spindly footed stoneware vases and bowls with textured surfaces, glazed in brown, green and blue.

Kåge’s finest protégés, Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg, took over from Kåge as Gustavsberg’s design directors in 1945. Friberg was a master potter. He threw elegant, simple, symmetrical vases and bowls painstakingly coated in layer after layer of matte glazing to achieve a classic striated effect known as “rabbit’s fur.” Lindberg’s highly collectible studio ceramics fall into two principal categories: The first is made of white porcelain pieces in round, biomorphic or stylized natural forms. The second includes weightier vases — many with textured bodies and applied decorations — glazed in deep, earthy colors. As you will see from the works on these pages, Gustavsberg was a bastion of creativity and precise artistry that turned out a remarkable range of works whose style still resonates with lovers of Scandinavian design.

Stoneware Miniature Vase by Berndt Friberg. Gustavsberg Sweden 1960s.
By Stig Lindberg, Berndt Friberg, Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful miniature stoneware vase with amazing 'aniara' glossy glaze. Made by master thrower Berndt Friberg, in the artist's studio at Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960s. Good condition....
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Green & Red Stoneware Miniature Vase by Berndt Friberg. Gustavsberg Sweden 1960s
By Stig Lindberg, Berndt Friberg, Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful miniature stoneware vase with amazing green and red glossy glaze. Made by master thrower Berndt Friberg, in the artist's studio at Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960s. Great cond...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Large Pink & Gold Art Deco Lustre Dish. Josef Ekberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1920s
By Josef Ekberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful large dish / platter / tray with amazing lustre glaze and hand painted gold details. Scandinavian Grace / Art Deco. Made by Josef Ekberg at Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1920s. G...
Category

1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic

Green 'Argenta' Art Deco Stoneware Vase by Wilhelm Kage Gustavsberg Sweden 1930s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful Art Deco / Swedish Grace stoneware vase with amazing green glaze and hand-painted sterling silver decor, hence the name 'Argenta'. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg in ...
Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Ceramic bowl by Wilhelm Kåge, Argenta, Gustavsberg. Art Deco, 1930s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Knivsta, SE
Ceramic bowl by Wilhelm Kåge (1889-1960), Argenta, Gustavsberg Porslinsfabrik in Sweden. Art Deco, 1930s. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Swedish Studio Pottery Bowl from Gustavsberg, 1960s
By Gustavsberg
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Swedish Studio Pottery Bowl from Gustavsberg, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials...
Category

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic

Blue Stoneware Miniature Vase by Berndt Friberg. Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden 1964
By Stig Lindberg, Wilhelm Kage, Berndt Friberg, Gunnar Nylund, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful miniature stoneware vase with amazing light blue hare’s fur glaze. Made by master thrower Berndt Friberg, in the artist's studio at Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1964. Good condi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Brown Stoneware Miniature Vase by Berndt Friberg. Gustavsberg Studio Sweden 1956
By Stig Lindberg, Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg, Gunnar Nylund, Berndt Friberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful miniature stoneware vase with amazing light brown hare’s fur glaze. Made by master thrower Berndt Friberg, in the artist's studio at Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1956. Great con...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Gustavsberg

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

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Gustavsberg Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$400Abstract SculpturesStoneware1960s
2025$180Tea SetsPorcelain1966 - 1985
2025$325Decorative Dishes and Vide-PocheCeramic, Stoneware1950s
2025$2,000VasesFaience1950s
2025$2,800VasesSilver, Stoneware1947
2025$2,499VasesCeramic, Stoneware1930s
2025$173Platters and ServewarePorcelain1959 - 1962
2025$135CandelabrasCeramic1960's
2025$535Decorative BowlsCeramic1920-1929
2025$1,580VasesSilver, Stoneware1940
2025$310Ceramics, VasesFaience1950s
2025$335Decorative Bowls, PotteryCeramic, Stoneware1958-1962
2025$446CandlesticksCeramic, Earthenware1950-1959
2025$1,150VasesStoneware1950s
2025$950VasesCeramic1920s
2025$250Porcelain, Serving BowlsPorcelaincirca 1950s
2025$1,266Table LampsCeramic, Fabric1960s
2025$2,245VasesCeramic, Stoneware1930-1939
2025$950Ceramics, VasesCeramic1921
2025$675VasesSilver, Stoneware, Pottery, Ceramic1940s
$1,087
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$135-$8,000
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Gustavsberg

Gustavsberg furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Gustavsberg furniture 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 Gustavsberg furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Gustavsberg were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Upsala Ekeby, Carl-Harry Stålhane, and Stig Lindberg. Prices for Gustavsberg furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $95 and can go as high as $20,792, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,502.

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