Alf Ekberg for Källna Studio Pottery, Black Stoneware Gold Gilding Damson Sculpture, Swedish

This beautifully elegant work of mid-century Modernist stoneware was designed by Aldo Londi (b. 1911 - d. 2003) for Bitossi Ceramiche. Inspiration for the glaze is said to be taken from the Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Rimini in Italy, and hence the series name Rimini Blu.

The glaze and the series that subsequently grew from it, has become iconic and the most highly collectable of Aldo Londis' work. The form of this particular piece has been crafted with superb almost-sentience and character, the stance captured is one of mid-feint and with curiosity.

Accentuating the work is the geometric and highly tactile 'Sgraffito' decor, with shapes and lines being embossed into the clay during the crafting process. The glaze displays strokes of green, Persiano and deep blue, the great blend of glossy smooth glaze is interspersed with coarse grit in the clay.

CONDITION
Excellent, no chips, cracks or repairs. There is natural wear that is commensurable with age, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the sculpture is marked with the model number '42120/628' and 'ITALY'. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm tall (arch of back to base) x c. 12.8" / 32.5 cm long (horns to tail) x c. 6" / 15.2 cm wide (across widest point of front hooves). Unpackaged weight: c. 2 kg / 2,115 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
After World War II, master ceramist Aldo Londi (b. 1911 - d. 2003) became the creative director of Bitossi Ceramiche, a position he held for more than 50 years. Londi apprenticed in ceramics at the young age of 11 and brought deep expertise in traditional ceramics production to Bitossi.

He’s best known for his 1950s-era collection, this Rimini Blu. This iconic mid-century modern series contains over 150 designs, including bowls, vases, jugs and animal figurines, all glazed in a vibrant blue hue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes.

Londi created the first piece glazed in Persiano Blue, the Ball Vase in 1955. Shortly after 1959, he began to create more pieces in this proprietary glaze. The collection holds historical importance because it helped to bring handcrafted and expressive works into the modernist design conversation in Italy.

Though blue was not the only colour Bitossi favoured, it has become closely associated with the brand’s identity. The collection is still in production today and widely collected by ceramics enthusiasts.

This striking and sculptural work of mid-century Swedish Modernistic design is by Lillemor Mannerheim (b. 1927 - d. 1994). Mannerheim was a countess, ceramicist, and illustrator who designed this Labrynt (Labryinth) vase in 1954 for Gefle Keramiks, together with a number of her other well-known series such as Kulisaner, Dixie, Mambo, Singoalla and Pärlor.

This elegant Labrynt vase features Mannerheim's gentle swelling design characteristic which tapers into fluted rim to create the flask form. This form is overlaid with the rich, semi-matte Onyx black glaze called Mangania that was a feature of many of Mannerheim's most popular series. The piece is finished with the hand-glazed gloss swirling in Powdered Lime tone on both sides to further elevate the piece. 

The combination of the form, glaze and Modernistic accents gives the overall piece a stylistically timeless presence. And yet the design of this piece is completely suited to the Atomic Design period that it's from, when space exploration and futuristic influences were at the forefront of world news.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs. There is mild use wear, predominantly in the form of movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. The underside of the base bears 'Gefle' and 'Lillemor' stamp and inscribed with the model number 'M43' and 'Labrynt'. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 11.4" / 29 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 3.9" / 10 cm diameter (across widest point). Rim measurements: c. 4.6" / 11.7 cm x c. 1.6" / 4 cm. Base Measurements: c. 2" / 5.2 cm x c. 2.2" / 5.7 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.6 kg / 630 g

A BIT OF HISTORY
Lillemor Mannerheim (b. 1927 - d. 1994) Ingeborg Aina Sophie Constance "Lillemor" Mannerheim-Klingspor was a countess, a ceramicist and illustrator who began her studies into art and design in 1945, at the end of WWII. Mannerheim began her career at Gefle in 1949, designing a number of popular series such as Kulisaner, Dixie, Labyrint, Mambo, Pärlor, Föl, Solros and Singoalla. She also designed a number of figurines and sculptures during her time at Gefle where she remained until 1957. 

Mannerheim spent time studying in Italy and France at the end of the 1950s before taking her career to the next step at Rorstrand in 1960. Her art is represented in a number of museums in France, Sweden and Finland. 

This striking and sculptural work of mid-century Swedish Modernistic design is by Lillemor Mannerheim (b. 1927 - d. 1994). Mannerheim was a countess, ceramicist, and illustrator who designed this Dixie vase in 1957 for Gefle Keramiks, together with a number of her other well-known series such as Kulisaner, Labyrint, Mambo, Singoalla and Pärlor.

This elegant Dixie vase features Mannerheim's gentle swelling design characteristic which tapers into fluted rim to create the flask form. This form is overlaid with the rich, semi-matte Onyx black glaze called Mangania that was a feature of many of Mannerheim's most popular series. The piece is finished with hand glazed gold angular and linear accents serves to further elevate the piece. 

The combination of the form, glaze and Modernistic accents gives the overall piece a stylistically timeless presence. And yet the design of this piece is completely suited to the Atomic Design period that it's from, when space exploration and futuristic influences were at the forefront of world news.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs. There is mild use wear, predominantly in the form of movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. The underside of the base bears 'Gefle' and 'Lillemor' stamp and inscribed with the model number 'M43'. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 11.4" / 29 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 3.9" / 10 cm diameter (across widest point). Rim measurements: c. 4.6" / 11.7 cm x c. 1.6" / 4 cm. Base Measurements: c. 2" / 5.2 cm x c. 2.2" / 5.7 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.6 kg / 630 g

A BIT OF HISTORY
Lillemor Mannerheim (b. 1927 - d. 1994) Ingeborg Aina Sophie Constance "Lillemor" Mannerheim-Klingspor was a countess, a ceramicist and illustrator who began her studies into art and design in 1945, at the end of WWII. Mannerheim began her career at Gefle in 1949, designing a number of popular series such as Kulisaner, Dixie, Labyrint, Mambo, Pärlor, Föl, Solros and Singoalla. She also designed a number of figurines and sculptures during her time at Gefle where she remained until 1957. 

Mannerheim spent time studying in Italy and France at the end of the 1950s before taking her career to the next step at Rorstrand in 1960. Her art is represented in a number of museums in France, Sweden and Finland. 

This beautiful work of Modernist art glass has been crafted using the Murano technique of Filigrana and has been shaped into the form commonly known as the 'Love Knot'. The association of knots with the symbolism of love, friendship and affection dates back to antiquity.

The technique Filigrana (Literal translation 'Filigree glass' in Italian) often features white coloured canes but sometimes multicolour too, as it is in this instance. The Filigrana style originated on the island of Murano in the 16th century and spread rapidly to other parts of Europe where façon de Venise glass was produced. Manufacture on Murano continued until the 18th century, and it was revived in the 20th century.

Though the Filigrana technique can be in applied using multicoloured canes, it has not been possible to trace another example of Filigrana applied into the Love Knot form. There are a few inclusions (bubbles) in the creation of this piece but despite this, the overall execution of the piece is beautifully balanced and an excellent canvas for light refraction. The colour palette bears a vibrant Cerulean blue, Scarlet red, Lemon yellow and Snow white.

CONDITION
Excellent. There is negligible wear in the form of movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece, please refer to the photos as they form part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 12" / 31 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 5.1" / 13 cm in width (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3" / 7.6 cm x c. 3" / 7.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.2 kg / 1,155 g

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

This striking work of Swedish Modernist design is Hound figure designed by the celebrated Swedish ceramicist and designer Gunnar Nylund (b.1904 - d.1997) for Rörstrand. The series of figures includes a Rooster and Fish and is characterised by the monochromatic palette that has been applied in a stylised technique that highlights the hand painted and 'hand drawn' manner. The aesthetic style is like that of a sketched drawing that has been 'brought to life' into a 3D figure.

The angular rise-and-fall form and décor makes this a touch-inviting tactile piece. Stylistically timeless and contemporary, this work is a outstanding example of Scandinavian mid-century Modern design and the combination of design, form and condition makes this a rare find. 

CONDITION
Excellent. There is light wear in the form of movement marks to the underside of the base athat is commensurable with the age of the piece. The underside is stamped with Rorstrand's logo and Nylund's 'GN' initials. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 5.7" / 14.5 cm (from base to rim). Width: c. 3.9" / 10 cm (across widest point). Depth: c. 1.9" / 4.8 cm. Base measurements: c. 1.9" / 4.8 cm x c. 3.3" / 8.3cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.3 kg / 285 g

NOTES
Figure will be securely packaged and shipping 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.