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.
Midcentury Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1968
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Small stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg, in a stout form with elegant blue hare’s fur glaze. Berndt Friberg was a Swedish ceramicist, renowned for his stoneware vases and vessels for...
Stoneware
Midcentury Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1953
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Small stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg, in an elegant, classic form with bright blue hare’s fur glaze. Berndt Friberg was a Swedish ceramicist, renowned for his stoneware vases and ...
Stoneware
Midcentury Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1965
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Elegant, small stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg, in a smooth form with dark blue hare’s fur glaze, lighter around the neck. Somewhat glossy finish. Berndt Friberg was a Swedish cera...
Stoneware
Midcentury Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1954
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Lovely stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg in a smooth, bulbous form. Pale yellow hare’s fur glaze. Berndt Friberg was a Swedish ceramicist, renowned for his stoneware vases and vessel...
Stoneware
Wilhelm Kåge "Gold Surrea" Bowl by Gustavsberg, Sweden
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Utrecht, NL
Carrara glazed 'Surrea' (meaning 'surreal' in Swedish) bowl from the 'Guldsurrea' series by Wilhelm Kåge. The Surrea series designs are characteristic because of their different cou...
Ceramic
White 'Carrara' Vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1930s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful 'Swedish Modern' stoneware vase with 'Carrara' glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg in Sweden, 1930s. Great condition. Stamped 'Gustavsberg / CARRARA' and impres...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1979
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful stoneware vase with amazing hare’s fur glaze. Made by master thrower Berndt Friberg, in the artist's studio at Gustavsberg, Sweden. Good condition. Incised signature "F...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Midcentury Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1977
By Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Lovely miniature stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg, in a plump form with a tiny neck. Cream and ochre hare’s fur glaze in a varying pattern over the body. Berndt Friberg was a Swedis...
Stoneware
Vase 'Carrara' by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1940s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
Beautiful vase made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden, 1940s. Carrara glazed stoneware. Excellent condition. Stamped 'Gustavsberg / CARRARA / 1132'. Wilhelm K...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1972
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Neat miniature stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg, in a slim, strict form. Dark blue hare’s fur glaze. Berndt Friberg was a Swedish ceramicist, renowned for his stoneware vases and ...
Stoneware
“Veckla” Bowl by Stig Lindberg
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Striking, large “Veckla” bowl by Stig Lindberg. Rare model with the characteristic, smoothly folded design. Made in carrara stoneware.
Stoneware
Stoneware "Veckla" Vase by Stig Lindberg
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
“Veckla” vase by Stig Lindberg, made in white Carrara stoneware. Unique, innovative design where the clay is folded inwards in a very sensual way. The “Vec...
Stoneware
Miniature ceramic vase "Castrol" by Sven Wejsfelt, Gustavsberg, Sweden 1980s
By Sven Wejsfelt, Gustavsberg
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Miniature ceramic vase "Castrol "designed by Sven Wejsfelt, produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden 1980s. Sven Wejsfelt active at Gustavsberg from 1953 to 2008. Beginning in 1953, he worke...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Tall Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg
By Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg
Located in San Francisco, CA
This wheel-thrown stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg features an extended, thin neck and a smooth glaze in hues of soft greens and aqu blues.. It exemplifies Friberg’s refined craftsma...
Stoneware
Miniature ceramic vase by Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Antwerpen, BE
A miniature light blue speckled ceramic bowl designed by Berndt Friberg, produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden 1950s. Berndt Friberg began working at Gustavsberg in 1934, mastering both f...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Lidded vessel designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Lidded vessel designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s. Earthenware. Signed. Stig Lindberg was one of the most influential Swedish ceramics designers of the post-w...
Earthenware
Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, Made at Gustavsberg in Sweden, 1950s
By Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Hägersten, SE
Stoneware vase designed by Berndt Friberg. Made at Gustavsberg in sweden during the 1950s. Stoneware with a bone colored hares fur glaze. Signed. Good vintage condition with small si...
Stoneware
Three Scandinavian Modern "Wave" 'Våga' Vase by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg Sweden
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Three Scandinavian Modern, "Swedish Modern" Våga vase with Carrara glaze. Designed by Wilhelm Kåge, circa 1930s. Made in Gustavsberg, Sweden. Marked with Gustavsberg logo. The vases ...
Stoneware
Vase ‘Surrea’ designed by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase ‘Surrea’ designed by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s. Stoneware with Carrara glaze. The ‘Surrea’ vase was made by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg in 1940. The Swede b...
Stoneware
Stoneware Vase “Veckla” Designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase “Veckla” designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s. Ceramic. Measurements: H: 36 cm/ 1' 4" D :17 cm/ 6 3/4". Stig Lindberg’s “Veckla...
Stoneware
Stoneware Sculpture by Bengt Berglund for Gustavsberg, 1960s
By Bengt Berglund, Gustavsberg
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A hand built sculpture made of stamped, stained and glazed stoneware slabs. Signed 'B. Berglund' with Gustavsberg Sweden sticker numbered '47'.
Ceramic
Scandinavian Modern "Kreta" Vase By Britt-Louise Sundell For Gustavsberg Studio
By Britt-Louise Sundell, Gustavsberg
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scandinavian modern, art pottery "Kreta" pattern vase by Britt-Louise Sundell for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden in ecru and brown. The mouth opening measures 2 inches.
Ceramic
Bowl 'Veckla' Designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Bowl Veckla designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden. 1950s. Stoneware. Dimensions: H: 16 cm/ 6 1/4'' L: 29 cm/ 11 1/2'' Stig Lindberg’s “Veckla...
Stoneware
Price Upon Request
Mid-Century Modern Stoneware Vase by Berndt Friberg, 1962
By Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg
Located in San Francisco, CA
A wheel-thrown stoneware vase by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg. Known for its collaborations with master ceramists like Friberg, Gustavsberg was a cornerstone of Scandinavian design...
Stoneware