Gunnar Nylund bowl

This decorative bronze bowl, designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced in Sweden during the 1940s, exemplifies mid-century Scandinavian interest in organic motifs rendered through modernist techniques. Cast in solid bronze, the bowl has a shallow, circular form with slightly curved sides and a low, unobtrusive profile. Its composition emphasizes a harmonious balance between material weight and surface delicacy.

The upper surface is richly detailed in low relief with a stylized underwater scene. Goldfish, aquatic plants, and bubbles are rhythmically distributed across the interior, creating a sense of spatial depth and motion. Linear elements, suggestive of ripples or light reflections, extend between the figures, further reinforcing the illusion of movement beneath the surface. The fish are arranged in varying orientations and scales, producing a lively, almost cinematic narrative around the basin of the bowl.

The patination is warm and nuanced, with a natural brown base tone accented by green oxidation in the recessed areas of the relief. These color variations lend additional dimension to the decorative scheme, enhancing both the tactile and visual richness of the object. The surface finish, unpolished and subtly irregular, emphasizes the hand-worked quality of the casting process.

Gunnar Nylund (1904–1997), a leading figure in Swedish design, is most often associated with his ceramic work at Rörstrand, but his contributions in bronze, stoneware, and sculpture reveal an equally sophisticated understanding of form and material. Nylund’s designs frequently drew from natural subjects—plants, animals, geological forms—interpreted through a modernist lens that favored clarity, rhythm, and surface texture. This bronze bowl reflects those concerns, translating a natural theme into a refined and self-contained decorative object.

Though better known for his ceramics, Nylund’s bronze works were typically created in smaller editions or as unique decorative pieces. Their relative rarity and the high level of craftsmanship they display make them especially valued within his broader oeuvre. The underwater motif is emblematic of mid-century Scandinavian design’s broader engagement with nature, filtered through abstraction and stylization.

The bowl measures 27 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height (approximately 10.6 x 1.6 inches). It remains in very good condition, with a well-preserved surface and naturally developed patina consistent with age. As a decorative work, it stands as a fine and uncommon example of Gunnar Nylund’s contributions to mid-century Swedish bronze art.