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.
Stig Lindberg, Bone porcelain 10 Espresso cups Gustavsberg, Scandinavian Modern
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare beautiful espresso set 10 cups + 10 saucers + 4 pieces (ten in good condition, four with smaller dents, one with dents and smaller crack). Designed by Stig Lindberg (1916-198...
Porcelain
Stig Lindberg, Salix, Sugar Bowl & Creamer, Gustavsberg
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: This sugar bowl and creamer belong to the popular series called Salix by Stig Lindberg and decorator Bibi Breger. The Salix serie dra...
Porcelain
16 Scandinavian Modern Gilded Chocolate/Espresso Cups by Wilhelm Kåge, Sweden
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Stockholm, SE
16 Scandinavian Modern Gilded Chocolate/Espresso Cups by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Made in Sweden. Green enamel with interior gilding. The gilded details on the espresso cups give ...
Porcelain
Stig Lindberg, Salix, Trio Set, Gustavsberg (x3)
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: This popular series called Salix, designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, draws attention due to the delicate lines drawn on the pure white and transparent bo...
Porcelain
Stig Lindberg, Salix, Trio Set, Gustavsberg
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: This popular series called Salix, designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, draws attention due to the delicate lines drawn on the pure white and transparent b...
Porcelain
$497Sale Price / set|20% Off
Stig Lindberg - Gustavsberg - Bersa - Bowls
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: The Bersa-series is arguably the most famous series of porcelain of Scandinavia. The Bersa-series combines an excellently formed set of high quality porcelain ta...
Porcelain
Set of Eight Colorado Plates by Carl-Harry Stålhane, Rörstrand, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
8 plates in porcelain iof model Colorado designed by Carl-Harry Stålhane at Rörstrand. They are 21,5 cm in diameter. They are in very good condition except from some minor scratches....
Porcelain
Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg Swedish "Argenta" Stoneware Plate
By Gustavsberg
Located in Queens, NY
Swedish Mid-Century ceramic stoneware plate in a mottled turquoise glaze with a silver overlay image of a snake and dragon entwined (Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg Swedish "Argenta")
Ceramic
Stig Lindberg, Coq, Gustavsberg
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: The coq-series by Stig Lindberg is very appealing to the eye. The light-brown color will make it look good on almost any table. Interesting is that the black de...
Porcelain
Stig Lindberg, Fajans, Gustavsberg, Plate, 1940s - 1960s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product description: This faience earthenware piece was designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. His faience pieces are decorated by a total of 36 different painters, this particu...
Earthenware, Faience, Ceramic
$3,942
H 7.49 in Dm 7.09 in
Stunning White 'Carrara' Vase by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1930s
By Rörstrand, Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg, Gunnar Nylund
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful and rare Art Deco / Swedish Grace stoneware vase with 'Carrara' glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg in Sweden, 1930s. Excellent original condition. No chips, cra...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Blue Bowl by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful stoneware bowl with blue glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden. In production 1958-1962. Great condition, only a few light scratches. Impressed wit...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Stig Lindberg Horse, Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1952-1972
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Probably made 1956-1957, painted in black and brown against white backdrop. Signed G, studio hand Stig L.
Ceramic, Stoneware
Argenta Stoneware by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Barcelona, ES
Two pieces of Argenta stoneware designed by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg. Swedish Art Deco / Swedish Grace.
Stoneware
Large Blue Bowl by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Malmö, SE
A large and beautiful stoneware bowl with blue glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden. In production 1958-1962. Great condition, only a few light scratches. Imp...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$950
H 1.19 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
Stig Lindberg, Ceramic Tray/Ashtray Domino, Gustavsberg, Scandinavian Modern
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stig Lindberg, ceramic tray/ashtray model Domino, Gustavsberg, Scandinavian Modern. In good condition, smaller signs of age and wear. One corner seems to have a small/minimal production flaw. Handmade with charm. Marked: Gustavsberg, Stig L, Domino 13. 21-year-old Stig Lindberg managed to get an internship in the summer of 1973, a time when Gustavsberg porcelain factory was close to bankruptcy. It took about two months for Stig Lindberg to impress Gustavsberg's artistic director Wilhelm Kåge, and after the summer he was offered a position as Kåge's apprentice. When Wilhelm Kåge stepped down as artistic director at Gustavsberg in 1948, Stig Lindberg took over as AD and during his years at the porcelain factory he designed many of the most beloved designs, include Berså, Spisa Ribb...
Ceramic
$440 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.85 in
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Five Spisa-Legum Dinner Plates in Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. Five Spisa-Legum dinner plates in glazed porcelain. 1960s. Measure: Diameter: 25 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
$1,465
H 5.71 in Dm 4.93 in
Brown Stoneware Vase - Stig Lindberg - Gustavsberg Studio - Mid 20th Century
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A lovely stoneware vase designed by Stig Lindberg at Gustavsberg. The vase is 14,5 cm high and 12,5 cm in diameter. It is in excellent condition and marked as on photos. This is a un...
Stoneware
White 'Vaga' Bowl by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1940s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
Beautiful 'Våga' bowl. Stoneware with white 'Carrara' glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden, 1940s. Swedish Grace. Great condition. Some metal marks. Impresse...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$760 / set
H 2.37 in Dm 2.76 in
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Twelve Coq Coffee Cups with Saucers in Stoneware
Located in København, Copenhagen
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. Twelve Coq coffee cups with saucers in glazed stoneware. Beautiful glaze in brown shades. Swedish design, 1960s. The cup measures: 7.5 x 6 cm. Sauc...
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg - Pungo Bowl - Gustavsberg - 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: On offer is this beautifully shaped bowl designed by Stig Lindberg which is part of the Pungo series. The Pungo series consists of three vases and two bowls,. T...
Earthenware, Ceramic, Stoneware
Sold
H 7.88 in Dm 5.12 in
Stig Lindberg Modern Plain Bone China 'SA' Service by Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1949
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Utrecht, NL
One of the finest refined early 1949, modernism mocha / espresso services 'SA' by Swedish renowned designer Stig Lindberg (1916-1982) in beautiful plain Bone China made by Gustavsber...
Ceramic
Stig Lindberg Ceramic Tray
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Chicago, IL
Painted Ceramic tray, signed on underside.
Ceramic
Large Dinner Set for 12 by Gustavsberg of Sweden
By Gustavsberg
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large set of ceramic dishes and serving pieces in the most desirable blue and white Swedish palette by Gustavsberg of Sweden titled "Aristokrat " Kage and 39, the date the set was made. Wilhelm Kage was the artistic leader of Gustavsberg from 1917 to 1949. This large set works for Fine or casual dining, stately yet understated. Perfect compliment to a Swedish or any other decor. 12 dinner plates 9 7/8" 12 low soup bowls 10" 12 salad plates 8 7/8" 12 cups and 11 saucers (Two cups as is) Ten demitasse cups and nine saucers Gravy boat with under plate Cream jug Three platters...
Porcelain
Stig Lindberg "Aland" Service
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in New York, NY
Five piece service for four, plus three graduated serving bowls, of Stig Lindberg's "Aland" dinnerware line, manufactured by Gustavsberg from 1962-1970. An elegant design with softly curved edges and a border of thin stripes of blue and black. Includes dinner plates, bowls, dessert or bread dishes...
Porcelain