Small Antique Art Deco 20s GUSTAVSBERG Sweden pitcher ‘GRONT BAND’ by designer Wilhelm Kåge

Small Antique Art Deco 20s GUSTAVSBERG Sweden pitcher ‘GRONT BAND’ by designer Wilhelm Kåge.

In 1826, the wholesaler Herman Öhman tore down the old brick mill and started a porcelain factory on the site. His plan was to supply the growing Swedish middle class with porcelain goods. However, there were major production problems in the factory, and the quality of the produced goods was substandard. No artists were recruited, and the Gustavsberg pottery was highly influenced by German and English shapes and decorations.

Wilhelm Kåge (1889-1960) is one of the most well-known representatives of the illustrious Swedish ceramic design of the 20th century. He was the artistic leader for Gustavsberg in the 1930s and 1940s and is often called the father of Swedish modernism. Kage is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design. He was born and raised in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. He studied drawing at the University College of Arts, Crafts, and Design in Stockholm. He continued his studies in Munich, perfecting his skills as an illustrator. During the first world war, he gained notoriety in Sweden for his colorful posters for theaters, lotteries, and exhibitions.Within a year, Wilhelm Kage had created the functional service series, “Liljebla” (Lily Blue). The forms, with their flowing blue decor, were simple yet reminiscent of 18th-century Swedish ceramics. The tableware series was a success at the Liljevalchs Exhibition in 1917, which is noted as the birthplace of the modern Swedish art industry. It was the first time artists and industries came together to create beautiful yet practical home decor. After the exhibition, Wilhelm was appointed artistic leader for Gustavsberg.

• Era – post-war
• Manufacturing years: 1924
• Height – 8 cm
• Diameter – 9,5 cm
• Capacity – 340 ml
• Made in Sweden
• Manufacturer – GUSTAVSBERG
• Design name – GRONT BAND
• Designer – Wilhelm Kåge
• Material – porcelain
• Condition – good / signs of age  and use appear / few chips on the edges / crazing on the glaze / scratches on the surface / see images.