This striking work of Swedish mid-century Modernist design by Marian Zawadzki (b. 1912 - d. 1978) who was a professor and later, artist and ceramist for Tilgmans Keramik of Gothenburg, Sweden. Zawadzki's experimentation of the Sgraffito technique brought great popularity and appreciation for Tilgman's ceramics and his work became exemplary for Tilgmans. Zawadzki's stylised use of the Sgraffito technique is absolutely a feature in this piece and is rare as it bears the artist's personal monogram and dating on the body of the vase.
True to the roots of Modernist design, the simple form and boldly geometric décor of this vase speaks to an honest expression of the natural earthenware. The texture of the earthenware is very tactile, with sections left deliberately coarse and unglazed. The unglazed sections create confident contrast against the individually glazed sections of boldly geometric, Sgraffito décor.
The vase is finished with an interior of gloss glaze that is coloured in a Spearmint green towards the neck and a softer cream towards the base.
CONDITION
Superb. No cracks or repairs. There are minor, negligible chips on the exterior which are commensurate with the age of the piece and mild use wear on the interior. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base of the vase is stamped with 'Tilgmans Keramik' and 'Made in Sweden' stamp and model number '606'. The body of the vase is inscribed with Zawadzki's 'M' logo and dated with '1966'.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 14.7" / 37.3 cm tall (from base to rim) x 5.9" / 15 cm rim and base diameter. Unpackaged weight: c. 3.1 kg / 3,120 g .
NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Marian Zawadzki (b. 1912 - d. 1978)
Antoni Marian Zawadzki (sometimes known as 'Zawadski' or 'Zawadsky') was an associate professor, artist and ceramist, was born in Poland in 1912 who, as a refugee, moved to Gothenburg in Sweden in 1953. In Gothenburg he worked as an artistic director at Tilgmans Keramik. Zawadzki's best known for his richly decorated objects in the Sgraffito technique.
His works included lamp bases, vases, bowls, urns and wall plates and he would receive commissions for public, municipal and private buildings. Zawadzki would leave Tilgman's Ceramics in 1970, moving to Vallda outside Kungsbacka where he opened his own workshop, Vallda Keramik. The production in his own workshop is very similar to his work at Tilgmans.