Vase designed by Gertrude Lönnegren for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s

Vase “Veckla” designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s. Stoneware. Stamped. Measurements: H: 30 cm / 11 3/4" W: 16 cm / 6 1/3". Stig Lindberg’s “Veckla...

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. Stamped. Measure: H: 35.5 cm / 1' 2" W: 17 cm / 6 3/4".

Vase designed by Carl-Harry Stålhane for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s. Stoneware. Signed.

Dish designed by Carl-Harry Stålhane for Rörstrand, Sweden. 1960s. Stoneware. Signed. Measurements: H: 6 cm / 2 1/4" Diameter: 18.5 cm / 7 1/4". Carl-Harry Stålhane (1920-1990) was born in the town of Mariestad, in the west of Sweden. As a child, he dreamed of being a successful painter. He started working for Rorstrand in neighboring Lidkoping at the age of 18. Initially, he decorated ceramic wares as assistant for the leading artist Gunnar Nylund. Carl-Harry decorated Rorstrand’s exclusive Flambé range as well as producing idyllic floral designs. In the mid 1940s, Carl-Harry Stålhane began to develop his own stoneware. He had his first solo exhibition in 1948, impressing the public with an ability to work in most contemporary styles of stoneware. But after studying in Paris in the late 1940s, Carl-Harry found a style that was truly his own. Inspired by the hunger for new products to meet the post-war economic boom, he developed from being a gifted decorator to a first-rate ceramic artist. He was praised for his "column-like, slender-necked stoneware vases with their peach surfaces", as one magazine put it. Spurred on by a deep love of the ceramic wares of the Far East, Carl-Harry liberated himself from the European tradition of ceramics, finding inspiration in foreign cultures, in Picasso and in constructivist art. The 1950s brought major successes: a diploma and a gold medal at Milan Triennials as well as solo exhibitions in Sweden, the UK and the USA. Carl-Harry commenced his career as an industrial designer in 1954. His Blanca tableware — in elegant white porcelain — was much in demand and gained him international prizes. He designed almost everything from numerous table sets decorations to rustic ashtrays. Carl-Harry Stålhane’s production of unique ceramic works of art increased notably in the late 1950s. In 1960 he reached something of a peak with an exhibition at Galerie Blanche in Stockholm. The exhibition showed robustly dark wares that were hailed as the new ceramics...

Bowl designed by Inger Persson for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1960s. Stoneware. H: 25 cm/ 9 7/8"" D: 33 cm/ 13"

Beautiful ceramic vase by Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s. Measure: height 29 cm.

Beautiful ceramic vase designed by Gunnar Nylund, manufactured by Rörstrand in Sweden during the 1940s. Made from stoneware with hare fur glaze in sand to red ochre color. Gunnar Ny...

Elegant “Chamotte” stoneware vase by Gunnar Nylund, in a stately form. Made in a technique where crushed earthenware is mixed into the stoneware. Rörstrand introduced Gunnar Nylund’...

Neat stoneware vase by Gunnar Nylund, in a drop form. Glazed eggshell white over a subtle graphic pattern. Gunnar Nylund was one of the most influential ceramicists and designers of the Swedish mid-century period. He was Rörstrand’s creative leader from 1931 until 1949 and as such propelled the artistic work at the factory and served as mentor to younger artists, among them Carl-Harry Stålhane and Hertha Bengtsson. Nylund was a dedicated functionalist, who brought ideas of democratizing stoneware and creating beautiful, qualitative and affordable everyday items for the people to Rörstand in the mid-1920s. The factory had at the time lost its former leading market position, but Nylund’s efforts gave it a great reboot. He designed ceramic kitchenware...

Lovely stoneware vase by Gunnar Nylund, in a curvesome, tapering form. Glazed pale blue with a white “Mimosa” pattern. Gunnar Nylund was one of the most influential ceramicists and ...

Beautiful stoneware vase by Gunnar Nylund, in a plump form with a slender neck. Glazed pale greenish blue with a white “Mimosa” pattern. Gunnar Nylund was one of the most influentia...