Gustavsberg porcelain

Gustavsberg is the name of a Swedish factory that manufactures earthenware, porcelain and ceramics. Gustavsberg employed some of the most important designers Scandinavian porcelain.

History of the Manufacture

The factory was founded in 1825 in the Stockholm suburb Gustavsberg. The fast-growing city was famous for its progressive social structure. The conditions for the workers were better than elsewhere, and in 1919 joined the workers of a trade union. In 1938 the porcelain factory in the possession of the cooperative Kooperativa Förbundet. In 1987, " Gustavsbergs porslinsfabrik " temporarily in the possession of the Finnish group Wärtsilä Oy, which also acquired Rörstrand and Uppsala -Ekeby. Later, production was divided: AB Gustavsberg manufactures bathroom facilities and sanitary porcelain, and is a subsidiary of Villeroy & Boch. I HPF Gustavsberg AB, wholly Swedish-owned, also provides Porcelain, crockery forth in Gustavsberg.

Just as the factory was long an important part of " Folkhemmet ", including the board of Gustavsberg porcelain reflects this period. The pieces with the typical functional design were to be found in many Swedish households after the war. Since 1945 Gustavsberg also had a plastic department, in the "Mr. Plastic " countless everyday objects were designed by Carl -Arne Breger. Particularly characteristic and original was a square bucket and a high, narrow flower - water jug ​​, for which today (2007) will have to pay to collectors fairs over 1200 crowns, when it was new (1957 ) cost them 2:75 crowns.

The most famous designers of the Manufacture was Stig Lindberg, without which the factory would not have survived the crisis of the 1940s. As followers of William Kåge ( artistic director from 1917 to 1948 ) he was there, the artistic director of 1948-57 and from 1971-1980. Next to him, the ceramist Karin Björquist has made a name, she was from 1950 to 1993 in Gustavsberg. Even the characters of Lisa Larson are world famous. Parts of the production can be seen at Nordiska Museet in Stockholm and the Porcelain Museum of Gustavsberg.

Blå Blom

The absolute longest production period had the dishes " Blå Blom " (Blue Flower), which actually showed no blue flowers in the decor, but intricate grapes and leaves. This service has been continuously produced from 1874 to 2006, the last years, however, in Korea. " Blå Blom " was thus the longest in Sweden produced industrial product.