Gustavsberg Pottery, Sweden

Friberg miniature pieces

Friberg vases

One of the main articles in my new copy of VintageExplorer magazine is about the Swedish ceramic factory of Gustavsberg and three of their main designers: Berndt Friberg, Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larson. The factory itself was established in 1827 but the aforementioned designers were proponents of the mid century style though Friberg (1899-1981) made his name in the 1930s working as a thrower for Wilhelm Kage. In 1944 he opened his own studio within the Gustavsberg brand called  G-studio where he perfected his well known haresfur glaze. Amongst his other famous work are the Oxblood and Aniara glazes. His signature, by which to recognise his pieces, is 'BF' or 'Friberg'. 

 Stig Lindberg began work at the factory in the late 1930s and early 1940s and was particularly well known for his colourful Faience series of vase and pots. He developed the series with Wilhelm Kage using a red clay earthenware base covered with a milky white glaze. which would then be hand painted. The floral designs of the 1940s were followed by more abstract depictions of the 1950s and 1960s. His inventiveness knew no bounds, however, and his creativity branched out into the industrial design of TV sets and washbasins and, the more usual, home decor, textiles, children's books and art glass.






The third notable designer at the Stockholm pottery was Lisa Larson who was hired by Stig Lindberg in 1954. Her pieces are usually depiting animals or people with a humorous twist. Her first collection was the Lilla Zoo in 1955. The chubby pigeon was only designed between 1955 and 1956 and is quite a rare piece.











In the late 1960s and early 1970s she produced the Zoo Animals series of which one figure was the lion in various poses and sizes. Lions were also produced into the 1990s.

 She has also produced domestic animals such as dogs and cats all with their distinctively humorous expressions.

Interested collectors can find pieces on Etsy in various stores and also in the online shop Mother Sweden