Wilhelm Kåge vase

This rare ceramic vase from the Farsta series was designed by Wilhelm Kåge and produced by Gustavsberg in Sweden in 1952. The piece exemplifies the sculptural and tactile qualities that define the Farsta line, featuring a globular body raised on four short feet with a thick, asymmetric collar around the neck. The form is both robust and architectural, drawing inspiration from ancient vessel typologies while presenting a distinctly modern, mid-century aesthetic.

The vase is made from stoneware and finished with a dark, glossy glaze that combines deep blue and brown tones. The surface of the vase is marked by a pronounced relief pattern of vertical ribs intersected by rectangular indentations, creating a grid-like texture that interacts with the layered glaze. Accents of turquoise and cobalt emerge between the raised lines, giving the vase a luminous, shifting quality that changes with the light. The glaze application is intentionally uneven, adding depth to the piece and underscoring its handcrafted nature.

The underside of the vase is marked with the impressed “Farsta” stamp, Wilhelm Kåge’s signature, the Gustavsberg studio mark, and the year code “V” for 1952, confirming its provenance and authenticity. Wilhelm Kåge (1889–1960) was the artistic director at Gustavsberg from 1917 to 1949 and was instrumental in the development of Swedish studio ceramics. His Farsta series, produced in limited numbers at Gustavsberg’s studio workshop, is regarded as one of the most significant expressions of postwar Scandinavian ceramic art.

The vase is in excellent original condition, with no visible chips, cracks, or restoration, making it a well-preserved example of Kåge’s work. It reflects a harmonious blend of modernist abstraction and organic form, a hallmark of Kåge’s mature designs.

The dimensions of the vase are 23 cm in diameter and 24.5 cm in height, which corresponds to approximately 9.06 inches in diameter and 9.65 inches in height.