Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger
Gunnar Nylund Curio 1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger

1940s -50s Swedish Gunnar Nylund Brutalist Underwater Scene Sculpted Bronze Relief Charger

Regular price £268.00 Save £-268.00

THE ITEM

This superb piece of Modernist and Brutalist design is by renowned Swedish designer Gunnar Nylund. 

The work depicts the vibrantly serene energy of an underwater scene, the details carefully captured in bronze relief. There is energy inherent in many aspects, from the swaying plant life, the swirl and swish from the sea creatures to the marked motion of water in the stylised dashes of dots and streaks. 

The influences of this piece make it versatile and the piece could suit a space with decor inspired by themes of Modernist, Brutalist, Industrial, Contemporary and Steampunk design.  

CONDITION

Excellent. There is mild wear commensurable with the age of the piece and an appealing ageing of the bronze in the green patina. The front of the charger is initialled with Nylunds 'GN' and the reverse of the charger is marked with the 'ÄKTA BRONS' [Translation: 'Authentic Bronze'] and the Aladdin's Lamp symbol of the manufacturer. There is also an inscription of 'MINNE FRÅN BLYAVDELNINGEN 1954' [Translation 'Memory of the day 1954'] and eleven signatures. 

MEASUREMENTS

Height: c. 1.6" /  4 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 10.6" / 27 cm in diameter. Unpackaged weight: c. 2 kg / 2,048 g

NOTES

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

A BIT OF HISTORY

Gunnar Nylund (1904 - 1997) was born in Paris, France to well-known Finnish sculptor, Felix Nylund, and the Danish-born Fernanda Jacobsen-Nylund. The family travelled to France, Italy, and Denmark, and eventually to Finland in 1911. At the outbreak of the Finnish civil war in 1918, Gunnar and his mother would flee to Denmark where Gunnar would complete his schooling and embark on his lifelong journey with ceramics, beginning with an apprenticeship. Gunnar would continue to practice ceramics with his father and took on extra work at the Bing & Gröndahl (B&G) porcelain factory. His contributions to exhibits at the 1925 Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes expo in Paris led B&G to offer him a permanent position. After three years at B&G, in 1928, Gunnar left to establish the Nylund-Krebs studio with Nathalie Krebs. The duo's pioneering Saxbo range (1929) has become an icon of Scandinavian ceramic design.

After two years, Nyland left to become the Artistic Director of Swedish company Rörstrand, a position he became renowned for and held until sometime in 1955. Gunnar made his most important artistic contributions while at Rorstrand. During his tenure at Rörstrand, he became known for smooth matte glazes, beautiful muted colors, and modernist shapes, producing hundreds of designs. 

From 1955, he was artistic director for Strömbergshyttans glassworks in Hovmantorp, and later freelanced for the company. In the early 1960s, he returned to Copenhagen and there, he started producing stoneware for Nymölle Keramiska Fabrik in Lyngby. Also during this time, he created Europe’s largest stoneware fountain the “Scanisarius” in Bromölla, Sweden, over five decades, Gunnar had crafted some 30 reliefs and sculptures commissioned for public spaces.