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Celadon Green Ceramic Art Deco Vase by Arthur Percy for Gefle, Sweden, 1930s
About the Item
A beautiful, fluted ceramic Art deco / Swedish Grace vase with amazing celadon glaze.
Made by Arthur Percy for Gefle Sweden, 1930s.
Great original condition - no chips, cracks or crazing.
Arthur Percy (1886–1976) was a Swedish painter, ceramic designer, and decorative artist whose work helped define the character of Swedish applied arts during the twentieth century. Best known for his long association with Gefle Porslinsfabrik, Percy combined artistic imagination with technical skill, creating ceramics distinguished by their vibrant decoration, refined forms, and unmistakable sense of colour. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, he moved seamlessly between painting and design, bringing the sensibility of a fine artist to the world of industrial ceramics.
Born in Vickleby on the island of Öland in 1886, Percy demonstrated artistic talent from an early age. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm and later travelled extensively in Europe, where he encountered both traditional decorative arts and emerging modern movements. These experiences broadened his artistic outlook and contributed to the distinctive visual language that would later characterise his work across a variety of media.
Although painting remained an important part of his career, Percy became increasingly involved in the decorative arts during the 1920s. His versatility as an artist allowed him to work with textiles, book illustration, glass, and ceramics, always bringing a strong decorative instinct and a sophisticated understanding of colour. This breadth of experience would prove invaluable when he entered the world of ceramic design.
In 1923, Percy began collaborating with Gefle Porslinsfabrik, one of Sweden’s leading porcelain manufacturers. Over the following decades he became the factory’s most influential artistic personality, creating a remarkable range of tableware, decorative ceramics, exhibition pieces, and artistic designs. His arrival coincided with a period of growing interest in artistic production within Swedish industry, and his work helped establish Gefle as one of the country's most respected producers of decorative ceramics.
Percy’s ceramic designs are characterised by their painterly quality. Unlike many designers who focused primarily on form, he approached ceramics as a surface for artistic expression. Floral motifs, stylised foliage, geometric patterns, and imaginative decorative compositions became recurring features of his work. Whether executed in bold colours or subtle tonal variations, his decorations reveal an exceptional command of rhythm, balance, and visual harmony.
The influence of Art Deco can be seen in many of his early designs, particularly in their elegant geometry and stylised ornamentation. Yet Percy never remained confined to a single style. As modernism gained prominence, his work evolved while retaining its distinctive decorative richness. Throughout his career he demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt contemporary artistic trends to the practical requirements of industrial production.
Among his most celebrated achievements were the artistic ceramics and exhibition pieces produced for international fairs and design exhibitions. These works allowed him greater freedom for experimentation and showcased his ability to merge artistic creativity with technical craftsmanship. His designs attracted attention both in Sweden and abroad, contributing to the growing international reputation of Swedish decorative arts during the first half of the twentieth century.
Colour played a central role in Percy’s artistic vision. Whether working in paint or glaze, he possessed an instinctive understanding of how colour could shape mood, movement, and visual impact. This sensitivity distinguished him from many of his contemporaries and helped make his ceramics instantly recognisable. Even his most functional tableware designs often display a lively decorative character that reflects the hand of an accomplished painter.
Beyond his achievements in ceramics, Percy remained active as a painter throughout his life. Landscapes, still lifes, and decorative compositions formed an important part of his artistic output, and his paintings were exhibited regularly in Sweden. The dialogue between painting and design remained a defining feature of his work, with each discipline enriching the other.
When Arthur Percy died in 1976, he left behind a diverse artistic legacy that encompassed painting, ceramics, textiles, and illustration. Today he is regarded as one of the foremost figures in Swedish decorative art of the twentieth century. His ceramics for Gefle continue to be admired for their elegance, originality, and vibrant decorative language, while his paintings reveal the broader artistic vision that informed all aspects of his work. Through his ability to unite fine art and industrial design, Percy helped shape a distinctly Swedish modern aesthetic whose appeal endures to this day.
- Creator:Gefle (Manufacturer),Arthur Percy (Artist)
- Similar to:Ewald Dahlskog (Artist)Upsala Ekeby (Manufacturer)Anna-Lisa Thomson (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 6.89 in (17.5 cm)Diameter: 4.14 in (10.5 cm)
- Style:Art Deco (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Ceramic,Glazed
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1930-1939
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Malmö, SE
- Reference Number:Seller: 11021stDibs: LU8317250499142
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