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.
Berndt Friberg, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Sweden, 1950s
By Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
An off-white glazed stoneware and brass table lamp designed by Berndt Friberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 10.5” H x 6.25” Diameter Dimen...
Brass
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Sweden, 1960s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, c. 1960s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 8.75” H x 7” Diameter Dimensions of Shade (...
Stoneware
Wilhelm Kage Mid-Cen Stoneware Table Lamp CARRARA for Gustavsberg, Sweden 1940s.
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Bromma, SE
Wilhelm Kåge Stoneware Table Lamp "Carrara" in beautiful creme color. Textured, Matte, Creme Colored Lamp Base featuring a Gold Colored Treifold Print. Design by Wilhelm Kåge (1889-...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$8,643Sale Price|20% Off
Stig Lindberg Big Black/Brown/Blueish Table Lamp, Sweden Unique 1970 Rare Size
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Forest, BE
This is a very unique table lamp with the very famous Japanese glaze (tenmoku). Its a higher piece than usual. This is a real lamp not a vase that was transformed later. You can see ...
Ceramic, Clay, Wool
Art Nouveau Table Lamp, Sgraffito, Josef Ekberg for Gustavsberg -1921
By Gustavsberg, Josef Ekberg
Located in Örebro, SE
Beautiful art nouveau table lamp, sgraffito, Josef Ekberg for Gustavsberg -1921. Good vintage condition, wear and patina consistent with age and use. Please notice, the shade is not ...
Ceramic
Modernist “Argenta” Table Lamp by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Elegant stoneware “Argenta” table lamp by Wilhelm Kåge with silver decor of a woman riding on the back of a large fish. Lovely attention to every detail, lively and dramatic expressi...
Stoneware
Sven Wejsfelt Ceramic Table Lamp with Josef Frank Shade, Gustavsberg, 1960s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg, Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare table lamp was designed by Sven Wejsfelt and produced by Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden in the 1960s. The lamp is marked with the maker's initials "SW" on the bottom of the b...
Ceramic, Fabric
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Sweden, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
A black and orange-glazed incised stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 11” H x 8” Diameter Dimensi...
Stoneware
Blue Art Deco 'Sgrafitto' Table Lamp by Josef Ekberg. Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1920
By Rörstrand, Gustavsberg, rorstrand studio, Josef Ekberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful art deco stoneware table lamp with amazing glaze. Made by Josef Ekberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1920. Great original condition. This is a vase made into a lamp. Signed '...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Sven Jonson, Table Lamp, Blue-Glazed Stoneware, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Sven Jonson
Located in High Point, NC
A blue-glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Sven Jonson, produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, c. 1950s-1960s. Sold without lampshade. Measurements listed are of lamp itself. Me...
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Sweden, 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in High Point, NC
A brown beige-glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 11.25" H x 4.75" Diameter Dimensions of ...
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg Shin Red Ceramic Lamp for Gustavsberg, Sweden
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in New York, NY
A shiny red glazed ceramic lamp by Swedish artist and ceramicist Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. The lamp consist of two ceramic parts, a polished brass stem which holds a new double ...
Brass
Sven Wejsfelt Earth-toned Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960s
By Gustavsberg, Sven Wejsfelt
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare table lamp was designed by Sven Wejsfelt and produced by Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden in the 1960s. The lamp is marked with the maker's name SWEN on the bottom of the base,...
Stoneware, Fabric
Berndt Friberg Table Lamp Gustavsberg Sweden Stoneware Brown Ceramic 1970s
By Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg
Located in Basel, BS
A unique Berndt Friberg table lamp made of hand-thrown stoneware with a perfect brown hare‘s fur glaze, made by the master himself in his workshop at Gustavsberg in Sweden in the 197...
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg Pink And Red Striped Faience Table Lamp, Gustavsberg, Sweden 1950s
By Loro Piana, Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking, elegant table lamp was designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden in the 1950s. The lamp is marked on the bottom of the base with the maker...
Faience, Linen
$1,152Sale Price|20% Off
Josef Ekberg Swedish Art Deco Ceramic Table Lamp with Original Shade, 1928
By Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
An exquisite Swedish Art Deco table lamp by Josef Ekberg, dated 1928, crafted at the renowned Gustavsberg porcelain factory. The ceramic base features Ekberg’s signature sgraffito te...
Ceramic
Modernist Mid-Century Stoneware Table Lamp, Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Cool, unique stoneware table lamp by Stig Lindberg, in an imaginative design. Relief pattern of dots, brown glaze.
Stoneware
Modernist Mid-Century Stoneware Table Lamp, Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very cool stoneware table lamp by Stig Lindberg. Cylinder shaped with an embossed checkered pattern typical of Lindberg. Brown and olive green glaze.
Stoneware
$6,722Sale Price|20% Off
Berndt Friberg Big Blue Table Lamp, Sweden Unique 1970 all original
By Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Forest, BE
This is a very unique table lamp made by hand with a blue glaze. Impressive measurements. Lamps are very hard to find from this artist, a real must have. This is a real lamp not a va...
Ceramic, Clay
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Sweden, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
A glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 13.25 H x 6.25” W x 4.75” Dimensions of Shade (inche...
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Sweden, 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in High Point, NC
A red-glazed incised stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, c. 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 8.5” H x 2.75” Diameter Dimensions of...
Stoneware
Karin Björquist, Table Lamp, Stoneware, Fabric, Sweden, 1960s
By Karin Björquist, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed stoneware and fabric table lamp, designed by Karin Björquist and produced by Gustavsbergs, Sweden, 1960s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 15.25" H x 10" Diameter Bulb Sp...
Stoneware, Fabric
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Glazed Stoneware, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
A gray, green, blue, and brown glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, c. 1950s. Bulb Specification: E-26 Number of Sockets: 1 Sold ...
Stoneware
Berndt Friberg, Table Lamp, Glazed Stoneware, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960s
By Berndt Friberg, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
A blue glazed stoneware table lamp by Berndt Friberg featuring a "hare's fur glaze" typical to Friberg's process. Produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960s. Signed and marked to undersi...
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Glazed Stoneware, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in High Point, NC
A glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, c. 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches) : 12.4 x 4.6 x 3.6 (H x W x D) Dimensions of Shad...
Stoneware
Scandinavian Modern Josef Ekberg Art Deco Ceramic Lamp with Oak Leaf Motif
By Gustavsberg, Josef Ekberg
Located in New York, NY
Scandinavian Modern Art Deco table lamp in ceramic "Sgraffito" technique with an oak leaf motif. The lamp retains its original polished brass foot and c...
Brass
Exceptional Ceramic Lamp by Bengt Berglund for Gustavsberg
By Gustavsberg, Bengt Berglund
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual and large ceramic lamp by Bengt Berglund for Gustavsberg. Large ceramic base sits on a wood stand, with a long neck and double pull chain socket. Completely unique to the ...
Ceramic, Wood
Stig Lindberg, Table Lamp, Glazed Stoneware, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in High Point, NC
A brown glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Stig Lindberg and produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s. Sold without Lampshade Dimensions of Lamp (inches) : 12 x 5.33 x 5.3 (Heig...
Stoneware
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
Deep Cobalt Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in New York, NY
Deep Cobalt Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, c. 1950 Tall blue porcelain table lamp with a sculpted pattern by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg. This ...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Table lamp by Sven Jonson, glazed stoneware with silver inlay, Gustavsberg, 1960
By Gustavsberg, Sven Jonson
Located in Göteborg, SE
Illuminate your space with the exceptional artistry of Sven Jonson's table lamp, featuring luxurious glazed stoneware with intricate silver inlay from the prestigious Gustavsberg stu...
Stoneware