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 “Argenta” Box by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Decorative stoneware “Argenta” box by Wilhelm Kåge in a comfact form. Decorated with a silver griffin, lovely attention to detail. “Argenta” was introduced at the Stockholm exhibiti...
Stoneware
"Mermaid Riding Hippocampus, " Large, Unique Argenta Covered Jar by Gustavsberg
By Gustavsberg
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stunning in size, composition and execution, this large covered jar by the Gustavsberg porcelain works in Sweden features a highly-detailed mermaid ...
Porcelain
Scandinavian Modern Jar In Glazed Ceramic, Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg -1925
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Örebro, SE
Very rare and early jar in glazed ceramic, Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg -1925. Each side decorated with a number 1 9 2 5. Signed with makers mark. Good vintage condition, wear and pati...
Ceramic
Midcentury Stoneware “Argenta” Box by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Sweet stoneware “Argenta” box by Wilhelm Kåge in a rectangular form. Beautiful decor of a child, lovely attention to detail. Scalloped pattern around the rim, checkered decor inside ...
Stoneware
Midcentury Stoneware “Argenta” Box by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Lovely stoneware “Argenta” box by Wilhelm Kåge in a square form. Beautiful decor of small flowers, lovely attention to detail. Scalloped pattern around the rim, checkered decor insid...
Stoneware
Midcentury Stoneware “Argenta” Box by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1946
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Lovely stoneware “Argenta” box by Wilhelm Kåge in a rectangular form. Beautiful decor of a reclining woman, lovely attention to detail. Scalloped pattern around the rim, checkered de...
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
$2,766
H 7.09 in Dm 5.12 in
Brown and Silver "Argenta" Vase by Wilhelm Kåge made in 1938 from Gustavsberg
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare and early example from Wilhelm Kåge’s iconic Argenta series, produced at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory in 1938. Crafted in stoneware with an unusual mottled brown glaze — ...
Stoneware
White "Våga, Cararra" pot - Wilhelm Kåge - Gustavsberg
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A stunning white flowerpot from the Våga-serie (Wave) designed by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsbergs Studio in the 1950s. The pot is 20 cm in diameter and in excellent condition except fro...
Stoneware
Monumental Wilhelm Kåge Argenta Vase, Gustavsberg, Sweden, circa 1930
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
An exceptionally rare and monumental Argenta vase designed by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, circa 1930. This striking example represents one of the largest and most impressiv...
Sterling Silver
$1,677
H 6.7 in Dm 5.12 in
Midcentury Stoneware “Argenta” Vase by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1947
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Lovely stoneware “Argenta” vase by Wilhelm Kåge in a curvesome form. Decorated with a motif of a contemplative mermaid. Lovely attention to detail. “Argenta” was introduced at the S...
Stoneware
Glazed stoneware vase with relief decor by WILHELM KAGE for Gustavsberg
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in New York, NY
WILHELM KÅGE Vase, Kåge workshop, Gustavsberg, mid 20th century. Glazed stoneware vase with relief decor by WILHELM KÅGE for Gustavsberg, mid 20th century. Wilhelm Kåge (1889–1960) w...
Ceramic
Art Deco "Argenta" Vase by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Scandinavian Modern Wilhelm Kåge "Argenta" Vase in stoneware and inlays in silver for Gustavsberg, Sweden. This beautiful piece is part of the Wilhelm Kages (Kåge) Argenta series, pr...
Silver
$1,995
H 7.96 in Dm 6.7 in
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 ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Wilhelm Kåge Argenta Vase, Gustavsberg Sweden, 1930s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Stockholm, SE
An elegant and architecturally refined Argenta vase designed by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, dating to the 1930s. This sculptural piece exemplifies the timeless sophistication of Scandinavian Modern design, combining restrained form with rich surface detail. The vase features a tall, tapering cylindrical body resting on four subtle feet, giving it a distinctive, almost columnar presence. It is finished in the iconic deep green Argenta glaze, beautifully mottled and layered, and adorned with finely executed vertical silver inlay striping that enhances its rhythm and height. The wide, disc-shaped top with a central opening adds a strong geometric contrast to the vertical body, creating a balanced and highly collectible design. The underside bears the Gustavsberg Argenta mark along with model number, confirming authenticity. Wilhelm Kåge’s Argenta...
Silver
$2,001
H 11.42 in W 11.42 in D 3.15 in
Wilhelm Kage Lock Urn 'Argenta' for Gustavsberg Sweden 1940s Signed
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Paris, IDF
WILHELM KÅGE. Lock urn, stoneware, "Argenta", Gustavsberg. Marked Gustavsberg Kage. Green glaze with silver decoration of dragons. Bears a gift inscription in silver inlay on the ins...
Silver
$930
H 5.71 in Dm 4.73 in
Wilhelm Kåge 'Argenta' Vase for Gustavsberg, 1940s – Silver Inlaid Flower Design
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Göteborg, SE
Wilhelm Kåge Argenta vase for Gustavsberg, made in Sweden in the 1940s. This vintage ceramic vase features a deep green glaze and an elegant silver inlaid flower design. A fine examp...
Silver
Green Glazed Ceramic "Argenta" Vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg
By Wilhelm Kage
Located in Montreal, QC
Green Glazed Ceramic and Silver inlaid "Argenta" Vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg Marqued: "Gustavsberg R Argenta 1209 Made in Sweden' with impressed number 1209 Sweden: 1931.
Ceramic
A Large Green Vase Argenta Wilhelm Kåge Gustavsberg, Silver Decor Dragon
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Stockholm, SE
A really rare and stunning cylindric vase with a well-shaped neck of model Argenta 1243 designed by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg, this vase is 35.5 cm (14.2") tall and it is in excell...
Ceramic
"Stampe" Jars by Bengt Berglund for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960s
By Bengt Berglund, Gustavsberg
Located in Hägersten, SE
Set of five "Stampe" jars designed by Bengt Berglund. Made at Gustavsberg in the late 1960s. Stoneware with blue/green glaze on the jars and contrasting mate glaze on the lids. Excel...
Stoneware