Swedish artist-designer Gunnar Nylund — who worked at iconic porcelain manufacturer Rörstrand for decades — was never satisfied with the status quo. He played with organic shapes, rich colors and dazzling patterns to create some of the most exquisite ceramic and porcelain sculptures, vessels and other furnishings and decor of the 20th century.
Born in Paris to artists Fernanda Jacobsen-Nylund and Felix Nylund, Gunnar lived in Finland as a child but when the Finnish Civil War broke out in 1918, he moved with his mother to her native Denmark. He initially pursued architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts but cut his schooling short when he accepted a position at the Bing & Grøndahl porcelain factory, where he worked for artist Paul Gauguin’s son, Jean, for several years, creating a range of stoneware pieces.
Dissatisfied with the factory's traditional approach to art, Nylund moved on from Bing & Grøndahl and sought to create works in a modernist style. In 1929, Nylund and chemist Nathalie Krebs opened their own ceramics workshop called Saxbo in Saxbo, Denmark. The company’s works garnered praise at a Svenskt Tenn exhibition, and the prestigious Swedish manufacturer Rörstrand offered Nylund a position as creative director.
While he later worked for Nymolle Ceramic Factory in Denmark for a short period, Nylund produced his most famous works while employed by Rörstrand. Fresh ideas and methods intrigued Nylund and he was always eager to try new techniques at the manufacturer. He worked in the Art Deco style, creating warm-toned matte-glazed stoneware sculptures and ceramic tableware that are devoid of lavish ornamentation. Later, he crafted numerous figurines and highly stylized animal sculptures. Nylund’s work can be found at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Designmuseum Denmark and elsewhere.
Find vintage Gunnar Nylund serveware, sculptures and vessels on 1stDibs.
Mid-century modern art pottery bowl by Inger Persson, Rörstrand Sweden
By Inger Persson, Rörstrand
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A signed studio production art ceramic bowl by Inger Persson for Rörstrand, Sweden. As most of her work this is a small studio product, a small bowl or flowerpot which is very rare a...
Ceramic
Modernist, earthenware ceramic vases by Inger Persson for Rörstrand, Sweden
By Inger Persson, rorstrand studio
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A pair of stunning very rare and signed vintage studio production art ceramic vases by Inger Persson for Rörstrand, Sweden. These vases are studio productions, thus rare, with a fan...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Danish Mid-Century Modern Pottery Plate or Vide-poche by Michael Andersen, 1960s
By Michael Andersen & Son
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A small stoneware vintage Bornholm pottery plate or Vide-poche from Denmark. Made by the talented Michael Andersen, this plate is iconic and so typical for this company, especially w...
Ceramic
Modern Art Pottery Bowl by Alexandre Kostanda, France a small piece of 60s art
By Vallauris, Alexandre Kostanda
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A rare and fantastic studio pottery dish by Alexandre Kostanda (1917-2007). He was one of the leading modernist French ceramic artists of the mid-twentieth century, earthy modernist ...
Ceramic
Art pottery Vide-Poche or plate by Inger Persson for Rörstrand, Sweden
By Inger Persson, Rörstrand
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A signed rare abstract Scandinavian Mid- century modern art ceramic plate made by Inger Persson in the 1960s for Rörstrand, Sweden. This is a studio production and has an unusual pat...
Ceramic
Söholm Pottery Small Glazed Dish, Mid-Century Modern, Denmark, 1960
By Michael Andersen & Son
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A charming small-scale ceramic bowl produced by Michael Andersen & Søn, Denmark 1960s. This piece features a warm, rustic aesthetic with a beautifully balanced glaze in soft bei...
Ceramic
Swedish Mid Century Ceramic "Rubus" Bowls by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of Swedish mid century ceramic / stoneware "Rubus" bowls by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand Sweden, 1950s. In good original condition and signed by the artist. Dimensions: H:...
Stoneware
Set of Two Modernist Stoneware Bowls by Drejargruppen for Rörstrand, Sweden 1974
By Rörstrand
Located in Bochum, NRW
A striking pair of Scandinavian modernist stoneware bowls, designed in 1974 by the Drejargruppen collective for Rörstrand, one of Sweden’s most storied ceramic manufacturers. These h...
Stoneware
Stoneware bowl by Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
By Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful stoneware platter in a leaf shape by Gunnar Nylund. Purplish brown glaze with contrasting bright blue areas. 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...
Stoneware
Set of 2 Small Mid-Century Danish Studio Pottery Bowls by Lise Eder, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Small Mid-Century Danish Studio Pottery Bowls by Lise Eder for Lise Keramik, 1960s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Addi...
Ceramic
Two Thomas Toft Bowls Studio Pottery, Denmark, 1950s, Danish Modern
By Thomas Toft
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning pieces, both bowls are signed.
Pottery
Swedish Mid Century Ceramic "Rubus" Bowls by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, 1950s
By Gunnar Nylund
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of Swedish mid century ceramic / stoneware "Rubus" bowls by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand Sweden, 1950s. In good matching and original condition and signed by the artist. D...
Stoneware
