Gustavsberg (Sweden)

Not seen these plates before (nothing in Gisela Eronn's book on Kage).  However stylistically they look like Kage and he did make plates.

Kage was indeed artistic director at Gustavsberg from 1917- 49 but he continued to have an association with them until his death in 1960.

As well as the best known Argenta series there are a number of other ranges associated with him

Farsta - the most important, these are unique stoneware pieces (my avatar is one of these)
Surrea - surrealist inspired shapes often with a single colour (the white ones are best in my view)
Cintra - porcelain items (ive also seen similar marked Carrara but don't know much about them)
Verkstad - this was a studio within Gustavsberg that Kage was involved with after 1949 until his death.  These piece are often marked KAPA after the initials of the four people involved.

He made other items that were not part of a range including designs for tablewares. Possibly these are trial pieces for a tableware range?

Kevin H wrote:Not seen these plates before (nothing in Gisela Eronn's book on Kage).  However stylistically they look like Kage and he did make plates.

Kage was indeed artistic director at Gustavsberg from 1917- 49 but he continued to have an association with them until his death in 1960.

As well as the best known Argenta series there are a number of other ranges associated with him

Farsta - the most important, these are unique stoneware pieces (my avatar is one of these)
Surrea - surrealist inspired shapes often with a single colour (the white ones are best in my view)
Cintra - porcelain items (ive also seen similar marked Carrara but don't know much about them)
Verkstad - this was a studio within Gustavsberg that Kage was involved with after 1949 until his death.  These piece are often marked KAPA after the initials of the four people involved.

He made other items that were not part of a range including designs for tablewares.  Possibly these are trial pieces for a tableware range?

Wow, thanks for all the info. Enough to keep me occupied in my my research. I have been told Kage has links with Henri Matisse is this true? That would explain the painting style on the plates

So.. I have been looking more into the history of kage and stig Lindberg and found this wonderful old film from 1942 showing them working together.......I think?
Some of the pottery pieces look very similar to the plates, shame we can't see it in colour!

http://filmarkivet.se/sv/Film/?movieid=35

A small Farsta bowl c1955 by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg

Another Kage designed piece.  This plate is part of the Argenta range and is about 8 inches across.

simple but very stylish

I've always found much about them forward looking but some of the decoration is very Victorian on some?

I've never been much of a fan of the Argenta pieces with classical motifs of mythical animals,  flowers and so on either.  Some of the simpler more geometric line patterns, as on this one, I do like.

Hello -- I picked up this little bird, unfortunately the beak is broken...  The mark looks like Gustavsberg though the rope on the anchor doesn't appear to be there... any ideas on that?  Also, do you think it could be Stig Lindberg?  I haven't seen any with the wings sticking out the way these do.  Thank you for any opinions!

Hello -- I picked up this little bird, unfortunately the beak is broken...  The mark looks like Gustavsberg though the rope on the anchor doesn't appear to be there... any ideas on that?  Also, do you think it could be Stig Lindberg?  I haven't seen any with the wings sticking out the way these do.  Thank you for any opinions! (P.S. I also posted on the Gustavsberg section of the Scandinavian board.)

Squash - Not seen this exact one before but it seems right - they did make birds. There is a similar one on Etsy. Yours demonstrates why everyone needs to castigate people who peel off labels! - I would suspect that a large proportion of the value resided in the detached 20mm of beak.

Thank you. Yes, it's too bad about the beak but it is still a sweet little thing. Do you think the breakage renders it valueless? Or depreciates it by say 75%?

I like it, so if it's valueless I can keep it. I relate to the broken nose trope ;)

Not valueless because there will always be a collector prepared to buy an example of a rare piece for their collection. What they would be prepared to pay, however, is anyone's guess, but a ball park figure of 20% off full price is a reasonable estimate.

Thanks - just to clarify did you mean 20% off or 20% of? (I.e. 80% off) Sorry to be thick but want to be sure I'm understanding correctly.

It does depend on how rare something is. If extremely rare and probably won't see another then people are more prepared to accept damage. If they are common the price drops through the floor as people just wait for a undamaged one. My estimate would be 25 or 30 %. So say a perfect one went for 200. Beekless goes for 50 or 60?

I avoid damage as much as possible. Nothing worse than a collection full of damaged items.

Yes, that makes sense. Thank you!

In the meantime I did actually find a picture of this very bird on a Japanese website, attributing it to him.

http://elephant-life.shop-pro.jp/?pid=92503507

A small jug by Wilhelm Kage.  This was done within the Verkstad during the 1950s and has the KAPA mark on the base.

that piece has it all for me, a natural form with beautiful lines and stunning glaze

I love it when the pot has a base with lots of unusual markings - it's the cherry on the cake when it has an unusual signature when not expecting one.

Here is another one by Kage.  The Verkstad mark is clearer on this one.

My collection of Josef ekberg signed plates, they only measure 7cm in width and have an amazing iridescent finish which doesn't show up so well in theses pictures.

This little sucker (RIGHT) was on EB and listed correctly but was extremely dirty. The photos don't really show how grubby it is. These are the before photos along side a Pungo vase I have had for several years (LEFT). Both designed by SL and made by gustavsberg in the 60s? - Freeforms calls this one a "Veckla" bowl with matte white glaze, 1960s.

Soaking in the tub as we speak - fingers crossed as it only costs a fraction of it's worth. Very hard to find, most I see are down for crazy money BIN or are damaged. ANY damage is a big no no with such a perfect form and I would leave well alone.

what a great find!

Thanks Dan, not had much luck since the summer....Stig is a keeper for me.

he was truly inspirational and shaped artistic design throughout the 20th century