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.
Pair of Art Deco Planters by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1920s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of beautiful Art Deco planters by Wilhelm Kåge, made from stoneware. Decor in diluted celadon green, glazed.
Stoneware
Stig Lindberg Unique Ceramic Cylindrical Bowl Planter in Oxblood for Gustavsberg
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Troy, MI
Large unique ceramic vessel by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg Studio Sweden circa 1960's Cylindrical form with molten spotted glaze in contrasting oxblood and mossy green Signed to u...
Ceramic
Five Mid-Century Terracotta Planters by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Stockholm, SE
The finest planter by Wilhelm Kåge, designed for Gustavsberg in the 1940s. The Swedish love for potted plants is confirmed in Gustavsbergs advertising brochure on "Planta" from 1940s...
Terracotta, Porcelain
Pair of Mid-Century Terracotta Planters by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
The finest planter by Wilhelm Kåge, designed for Gustavsberg in the 1940s. The Swedish love for potted plants is confirmed in Gustavsbergs advertising brochure on "Planta" from 1940s...
Porcelain, Terracotta
$837Sale Price|24% Off
Lisa Larson - Unique Piece - Gustavsberg - 1970s
By Gustavsberg
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: This is a unique piece designed by arguably Sweden's most famous artist Lisa Larson. The signature of Lisa Larson and the hand of the studio Gustavsberg are clea...
Earthenware, Ceramic
Planter by Wilhelm Kåge – Swedish Grace, 1920s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Knivsta, SE
Planter by Wilhelm Kåge – Swedish Grace, 1920s A decorative earthenware planter designed by Wilhelm Kåge (1889–1960) for Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory. Featuring a stylized floral...
Earthenware
Swedish Modern Reptile Satin White Ceramic Bowl Stig Lindberg Gustavsberg 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Miami, FL
Stig Lindbergh for Gustavsberg, Sweden, His REPTILE Series (1953-1963) #264 large size leaf shaped vessel bowl in white satin glaze with texture design on inside of vessel. Measures...
Ceramic, Pottery
Mid-Century Modern Stig Lindberg Planters for Gustavsberg, Sweden.
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Mid-Century Modern Stig Lindberg handmade planters for Gustavsberg. Lindberg designed "Silur" series in 1962 for Gustavsberg. Typical for Swedish design at this time is the geometric...
Clay, Stoneware
Stig Lindberg Vase
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Chicago, IL
Painted Ceramic vase. Signed on underside. This item is currently on view in our NYC Greenwich Street Location.
Ceramic
Stoneware "Farsta" Vase by Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
“Farsta” vase with thick, blue glazed walls balancing on an unglazed base decorated with etched stripes. Production year inscripted on the base. “Farsta” stoneware is recognized a...
Stoneware
Stoneware Vase by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s
By Gustavsberg, Stig Lindberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful stoneware vase with amazing glaze. Made by Stig Lindberg in Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden. 1950s. Great condition. Impressed "Stig L.", "Drejargods" and Gustavsberg studio ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
White 'Carrara' Vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1930s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful 'Swedish Modern' stoneware vase with white 'Carrara' glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg in Sweden, 1930s. Great condition. Stamped 'Gustavsberg / CARRARA' and ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$2,960Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 14.63 in W 11.38 in D 13.5 in
Three Lions From The Afrika Series Designed By Lisa Larson For Gustavsberg
Located in Doraville, GA
Three lions in varying sizes designed by noted designer and ceramicist Lisa Larson. The lions are from the Afrika series, designed in 1964. The set consists of a mini, large and giga...
Ceramic
Bulldog Sculpture Figurine in Ceramic by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg 1960s
By Gustavsberg
Located in Troy, MI
Lisa Larson Gustavsberg Bulldog Sculpture Figurine Ceramic bulldog sculpture from the Large Zoo series Designed by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg Sweden c. 1960s Labeled to underside ...
Ceramic
Pair of Lisa Larson Lion Sculptures Gustavsberg
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of large lion ceramic sculptures by Lisa Larson for the Africa Series made by Gustavsberg. This size is the largest of the series. Signed at bottom. Whimsical interpretation a...
Ceramic
$1,996
H 11.42 in W 11.42 in D 3.15 in
Wilhelm Kage Lock Urn 'Argenta' for Gustavsberg Sweden 1940s Signed
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Paris, IDF
WILHELM KÅGE. Lock urn, stoneware, "Argenta", Gustavsberg. Marked Gustavsberg Kage. Green glaze with silver decoration of dragons. Bears a gift inscription in silver inlay on the ins...
Silver
Lisa Larson Ceramic Cat Figurine Gustavsberg, Sweden
Located in Delft, NL
Lisa Larson ceramic cat figurine Gustavsberg Sweden.
Ceramic
Wilhelm Kåge Argenta Vase, Gustavsberg Sweden, 1930s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Stockholm, SE
An elegant and architecturally refined Argenta vase designed by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, dating to the 1930s. This sculptural piece exemplifies the timeless sophistication of Scandinavian Modern design, combining restrained form with rich surface detail. The vase features a tall, tapering cylindrical body resting on four subtle feet, giving it a distinctive, almost columnar presence. It is finished in the iconic deep green Argenta glaze, beautifully mottled and layered, and adorned with finely executed vertical silver inlay striping that enhances its rhythm and height. The wide, disc-shaped top with a central opening adds a strong geometric contrast to the vertical body, creating a balanced and highly collectible design. The underside bears the Gustavsberg Argenta mark along with model number, confirming authenticity. Wilhelm Kåge’s Argenta...
Silver
Art Deco "Argenta" Vase by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Stockholm, SE
Scandinavian Modern Wilhelm Kåge "Argenta" Vase in stoneware and inlays in silver for Gustavsberg, Sweden. This beautiful piece is part of the Wilhelm Kages (Kåge) Argenta series, pr...
Silver
$504
H 2.55 in Dm 2.55 in
Lisa Larson Bird figurine, a rare studio production for Gustavsberg, Sweden.
By Gustavsberg
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A very rare Bird figurine, by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg from a limited studio production known as "Fåglar" from 1964. This is typical of Lisa Larson's Scandinavian minimalism, a ni...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$1,995
H 7.96 in Dm 6.7 in
Green 'Argenta' Art Deco Stoneware Vase by Wilhelm Kage Gustavsberg Sweden 1930s
By Gustavsberg, Wilhelm Kage
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful Art Deco / Swedish Grace stoneware vase with amazing green glaze and hand-painted sterling silver decor, hence the name 'Argenta'. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg in ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-Century Modern Stig Lindberg Planters for Gustavsberg
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Mid-Century Modern Stig Lindberg Planters for Gustavsberg. Lindberg designed "Silur" series in 1962 for Gustavsberg. Typical for Swedish design at this time is the geometric forms wi...
Clay, Stoneware
Sold
H 11.42 in Dm 13.39 in
Large Planter in Art Nouveau Ekberg, Floral Turquoise & Blue Scandinavian 1911
By Josef Ekberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A large planter in porcelain in lovely art nouveau style designed by Josef Ekberg at Gustavsberg in 1911. The planter is 29 cm high and 34 cm in diameter. It is in very good conditio...
Ceramic
Art Deco Nude Argenta Vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Atlanta, GA
Art Deco Nude Argenta Vase, made by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden, circa 1930s. Vibrant green color with silver decoration.
Ceramic