Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda Duo: Blue Rainbow Vase and Blue Starlight Palette Lidded Pot, Rare

THE ITEM
This beautiful work of Scandinavian Modernist design is by Pentti Sarpaneva (b.1925 - d. 1978) Finnish jewellery and decorative designer. This piece was produced by Oy Kumela glassworks for jewellers Torun Hopea. 

Sarpaneva's style was influenced by elements of the rugged Finnish landscape, casting textures from materials such as tree bark and rock. Other inspirations included traditional Finnish lace and the metals he worked with. 

The design of this piece encapsulates much of Sarpaneva's style, his inspirations and the Modernist design influences of the time. The Cornflower blue glass surface shows off a number of textured and angular circular and semi-circular reliefs. The piece is finished with the silver collar that is decorated in Sarpaneva's rugged lace design that can be found in his jewellery designs. However, the collar being cast in silver is a rare find as this series of vases is typically found with a bronze collar. 

CONDITION

Very Good, no chips, cracks or repairs to the glass, there is patinated wear and marring to the silver that is commensurate with the age of the piece - please see photos as part of the condition report. 
The underside of the base is signed 'Pentti Sarpaneva' and 'Oy Kumela' and bears the original silver label 'Turun Hopea, Made in Finland'. The silver collar is also marked with '830' representing the purity of the silver and 'T7' which denotes the year 1972. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 3.1" / 8 cm tall x c. 2.8" / 7.2 cm length x c. 2.8" / 7.2 cm width. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.4 kg / 368 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Pentti Sarpaneva (b.1925 - d. 1978)  Sarpaneva trained in graphic
design, at the Institute of Industrial Art and following the war, began his design career in the late 1950s. He designed for Kalevala Koru Oy and later in 1967, he became artistic director for Turun Hopea, remaining there until his death. 

Unique amongst his contemporaries, Sarpaneva would cast his designs straight from nature and the man-made environment, often using rocks and tree bark, as well as discarded rope and lace. During the height of his career, he was known for producing emotive, avant-garde, bold and eccentric designs. 

THE ITEM
This exceptional work of mid-century Modernist design is by the renowned ceramic artist and designer Gunnar Nylund, (b.1904 - d.1997). Nylund became well known for his 'matte feldspar' glazed stoneware, crystal glazes and for his stoneware animal sculptures. This piece was designed during his time as artistic director at Rörstrand.

This sculpture is flowing in form, with beautifully sculpted minimalist contours which quietly highlights its muscular feinting posture. The piece is glazed using the matte black on pale green glaze used in Nylunds 'Caolina' series.

Both the form and the glaze of this piece is a rarely seen combination by Nylund, the silky smooth glazed decor and form makes this a very tactile piece. This sculpture would be well suited to a room with decor inspired by Mid Mod, Modernist, Contemporary or even Industrialist themes.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs - please refer to photos as part of the condition report. The base bears the inscribed Rörstrand stamp that bears the inscription of 'Rorstrand' and Nylund's initials 'GN'.  

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 4.5" / 11.5 cm by c. 7.8" / 20 cm in length (from nose to tail) by c. 3.6" / 9.1 cm in width (across body's widest point). Unpackaged weight: 0.8 kg / 845 g

NOTES
Sculpture will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

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.

This elegant and charming work of 1930s Art Deco design is by Swedish sculptor and ceramist Maggie Wibom (b.1899 - d.1961).

The gentle exaggeration in the stylised curves of this horse, both in the stance and muscles are recognised characteristics of Wibom's technique. This horse figure, in particular, is known to have been designed and created during the year Wibom was guest designer at Gefle Ceramics. The semi-matte and opaque white glaze has been used to highlight the sculpted and flowing curves of the ceramic, adding an extra dimension of personality and character to the sculpture.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild use wear, predominantly in the form of movement marks on the underside of the figure's base and which is commensurable with the age of the piece. The underside of the base bears Wibom's stamp and Wiboms initial's 'MW' are inscribed into one hind leg.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 5.9" / 15 cm tall (from base to rim) x 8.3" / 21 cm in length. Depth: c. 3.9" / 10cm (across widest point). Unpackaged weight: c. 0.7 kg / 722 g

NOTES
Figure will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Jonny Margareta (Maggie) Wibom (b.1899 - d.1961) was a Swedish ceramist and sculptor. Wibom studied at the Higher Art Industrial School until 1924 and was employed at Boberg's Fajansfabriek in Gävle in 1925. She designed bowls, dishes and pots often with motives in relief. In 1933-1934 she was a guest designer for Gefle Porslinsfabrik with figures and animals in stoneware. In 1936 she started at St. Eriks Lervarufabriker in Uppsala. In 1938, she started her own workshop, Stockholm's Ceramics in Stockholm, which she ran until 1950.

Her work was often composed in ceramic and she created decor such as glazed ceramic tiles with figurative compositions.

In her lifetime, she exhibited her works in a number of art galleries and museums both in Sweden and internationally. Her public works include ceramic decorations for the People's House in Gävle, a wall fountain at the cinema Aveny in Stockholm, and ceramic reliefs and wall tiles for Staffan's church in Gävle.

Other examples of Wibom's work is represented in multiple museums in Sweden such as the National Museum of Stockholm, Gävleborg County Museum, Uppland Museum as well as abroad in Trondheim Museum, Norway and Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

This piece is a beautiful design of Art Deco from the iconic Rubin series by Gefle Upsala Ekeby's renowned artistic director, Arthur Percy.

Percy combined the gentle curves in the form of this piece, the colour and stylised floral gold gilding into a modernised statement of Scandinavian influenced chinoiserie. The design overall, is seamless blend of the luxury, glamour and exuberance of which the Art Deco design movement represented.

CONDITION
Superb. No chips or cracks, there is age-wear present in the form of mild wear to the gold gilding which is commensurable with age of the piece. The base bears the Upsala-Ekeby Gefle stamp, 'Rubin', the numbers '252', '19' and the inscribed initials of 'DP'.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 3.9" / 10 cm tall (from base to rim) x 4.1" / 10.5 cm in diameter (rim). Base diameter: c. 2.4" / 6 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.3 kg / 345 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Carl Arthur Carlsson-Percy, a ceramist and artist, born in Vickleby on August 10, 1886, son of sailor Nils Petter Carlsson and Johanna (Hanna) Sofia Andersson, married to Kerstin Beckman from 1911.

Percy traveled to Stockholm during the early 20th century to train himself as a decorative painters. In 1905 he went to the school of artistic association and in 1908 he traveled to Paris for studies at Académie Collarossi and Matisse Painting School. He would go on to become artistic director in 1923 at Gefle Porslinsfabrik(which became part of Upsala Ekeby in 1936). In 1942 he became artistic director at Karlskrona Porslinsfabrik until 1946.

His early work was characterised by items with soft decorations of flowers and birds, he was also inspired by Italian 14th and 16th centuries, which was also reflected in his work. During the 1920s, his renowned work includes the series "Gefle", "Vinranka", "Floating Blue", "Iris", "Three Flowers", "Silversties" and "Christina". During the 1930's and 40's came "Suecia", "Exotica" and his perhaps most famous décor "Rubin".

Percys art is represented in a large number of Swedish and foreign museums, including National Museum and Modern Museum, Prince Eugens Waldemarsudde, Art Museum in Gothenburg, and museums in Malmö, Norrköping, Lindköping, Västerås, Borås, Jönköping, Kalmar, Karlstad, Gävle and Östersund, etc. Abroad, one can find his art at the Sévres Museum in Paris, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Pau, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Metropolian Museum in New York and the Lubeck Museum in Germany and others.

THE ITEM
This richly coloured 9 piece set of Swedish Modern design is by glass designer Lennart Anderssen (b. 1918 - d. 1999) for Gullaskruf glassworks.

The jewel-like colour palette of the set consists of a vibrant Cobalt blue, Ruby red, Ocean green and Grape purple. The form of the bowls is beautifully silhouetted with rounded angles, as is characteristic to Modern design with matching plates that have a gentle inversion and is otherwise smoothly disc-like. Each piece is finished with an accent of dotted reliefs arranged in 3 concentric circles.
This set gives an incredible pop of colours to compliment the dining table.

CONDITION
Superb. No significant damage such as cracks or repairs to the set, the following negligible wear and has been mentioned for completeness:
- Large serving bowl: small chip on the rim measuring c. 0.2 mm.
- Blue plate: very mild scratches.
Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The gold foil Gullaskruf label denoting 'GULLASKRUF, SWEDEN' is present on all pieces except for the small blue bowl.

MEASUREMENTS
- Large Serving Bowl: Height c. 4.8" / 12.2 cm x c. 8" / 20.3 cm width (across widest point). Base diameter c. 2.5" / 6.3 cm.
- Small Bowl: Height c. 2.3" / 5.8 cm x c. 4.2" / 10.6 cm width (across widest point). Base diameter c. 1.8" / 4.5 cm.
- Saucer / Plate: Height c. 0.8" / 2 cm x c. 5.9" / 15 cm diameter (across widest point).
Unpackaged weight [Full Set]: c. 2.3 kg / 2,291 g

NOTES
Set will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Gullaskrufs glassworks (1927 - 1983) was a Swedish glassworks founded in Gullaskruv in by William Stenberg, glass production began in 1927. By 1930 Gullaskruf would exhibit their works at the Stockholm exhibition and around the same time, the glassworks came into contact with the foreign market. At that time, exports accounted for 45% of Gullaskruf's production and in addition to the USA and England, glass was exported to Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada, South America, Australia and South Africa.

Over the years, the glassworks would be resident to many great glass designers and artists, some of who became artistic director for Gullaskruf. Designers and artists included: Hugo Gehlin (b. 1889 - d. 1953), Lennart Andersson (b. 1918 - d. 1999), Arthur Percy (b. 1886 - d. 1976) and Kjell Blomberg (b. 1931 - d. 1989).

THE ITEM

Presenting this work of art, of Scandinavian Mid Century design in earthenware by ceramist Johannes Hedegaard. 

The relief is part of a series designed by Hedegaard where the composite raw earthenware, glazed or unglazed, would be contrasted by the brightly coloured and patterned gloss glaze. 

This particular piece is of unglazed earthenware, the figure is subtly rich in details such as strands of hair and facial feature shadows. The patterned gloss glaze decor is a rich blend of auburn and pale blue, delineated with a scalloped Cobalt blue bands.   

A BIT OF HISTORY

Johannes Hedegaard (b. 1915 - d. 1999) was a Danish ceramist and sculptor. He was trained as sculptor at the Royal Copenhagen Factory and the Academy of fine art in Copenhagen 1930-1935. Assigned with Royal Copenhagen from 1948-1966. His work is exhibited at the Lunds Museum, Sweden; Chicago, USA and several Danish Museums.

Aluminia was a Danish factory of faience or earthenware pottery, established in Copenhagen in 1863. In 1882, the owners of Aluminia purchased the Royal Copenhagen porcelain factory. The factories were operated independently under their respective trade names until 1969, when the use of the Aluminia name was ended.

CONDITION

Excellent. There are no chips, cracks or scratches or crazing in the glaze as might be expected from a piece of this age. The back of the ceramic has the appropriate openings for fixing to the wall. There is also the Royal Copenhagen Aluminia 'BA, Denmark' mark, Hedegaard's signature and the numbering of '160/2798' pieces. 

MEASUREMENTS

c. 12.8" /  32.5 cm tall (from base to rim) x 10" /  25.5 cm in width. 

Unpackaged weight:  1.6 kg / 1,638 g

NOTES

Ceramic will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.