Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville
This striking work of Swedish mid-century design is from the 'Hedgehog' vases that were part of the larger 'Chamott' (Chamotte) series designed between 1936 to 1948 by the celebrated Swedish ceramicist and designer Gunnar Nylund (b.1904 - d.1997). These vases were often made into lamps, as this piece is here and typically come in 5 colours (Emerald, Topaz (Mustard), Turquoise, White, and Yellow). There are 3 forms to the Hedgehog vases; this piece comes from the 'AI' form and is the largest of the 3 available sizes at 21 cm in height (small 12cm, medium 16cm, large 21cm). Nylund became well known for his Chamotte sculptures, designing the series during his time as artistic director at Rörstrand.
Personally, I see a resemblance to the thick shaggy fleece of a Scandinavian mountain sheep in the Hedgehog Chamotte décor. Chamotte is also known as 'firesand', a raw ceramic material that has a high percentage of silica and alumina. It can be produced by firing selected fire clays to high temperatures before grinding and screening to specific particle sizes.
The décor makes this an exceptionally tactile piece, the highly textured, rough surface with the glossily glazed décor is a fabulous juxtaposition. The size of this piece gives it extra presence and the finishing accent of stylised bulb holder collar in Antique gold-tone makes it a statement piece.
CONDITION
Excellent. There is light use wear to the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Mentioned for completeness: there is a minimal hairline crack on the underside of the base that is from production and not damage. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The base bears Rörstrand's stamp. Length of cord: c. 89.3" / 227 cm and is fitted with a European plug. Lamp takes standard A-series Screw bulb.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 8.3" / 21 cm (excluding bulb holder) height: c. 11.8" / 30 cm (including bulb holder). Width: c.5.5" / 14 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 3.3" / 8.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 3.7 kg / 3,670 g
A BIT OF HISTORY
Gunnar Nylund (b. 1904 – d.1997) Nylund was a Swedish ceramic designer since the 1930s and is perhaps best known as the artistic director of Rörstrand and was already a well-established ceramic artist in Denmark - first at the Bing & Grøndahl Porcelain factory in Copenhagen and later at Saxbo.
Nylund was resident at Rörstrand from 1931–1955 and for the majority of this time, as artistic director. He became well known for his new matte feldspar glazed stoneware in hare’s fur and crystal glazes and for his stoneware animal sculptures. Over five decades, Nylund crafted some 30 reliefs and sculptures commissioned for public spaces, including Europe’s largest stoneware fountain the “Scanisarius” in Bromölla, Sweden.
Most of Nylund’s original sculptures in stoneware chamotte ended up in museums, as did much of his other work. Sculptures such as the “Lion Head” is found at the National Museum in Stockholm, “Blue Bird” is at the Sèvres museum in Paris, his antelope head “Abyssinian mountain nyala”, is at the Röhsska museet in Gothenburg and the “Hamadryas Baboon” is at the Malmö Museum.
His piece “Bulls head in oxblood” was bought by the Ateneum museum in Helsinki. And a lot of his other work can be found at other museums around the world.
