Berndt Friberg vase

This ceramic vase was designed by Berndt Friberg and produced by Gustavsberg in Sweden in 1964. It is executed in stoneware and finished with a hare fur glaze, a surface treatment that became closely associated with Friberg’s mature work. The form is slender and vertically oriented, with a softly rounded body tapering into a narrow neck and a slightly flared lip, creating a balanced and restrained silhouette.

The glaze presents a warm yellow to ochre tonality with subtle variations and vertical streaking characteristic of the hare fur technique. The surface shows a fine, flowing texture where the glaze has gathered and thinned during firing, giving depth and movement without decoration. The lower section transitions into a lighter, more muted hue, while the rim and shoulder display slightly darker concentration. The base is neatly finished and bears Friberg’s incised signature along with the Gustavsberg mark.

Berndt Friberg was one of the most important Swedish ceramic artists of the 20th century, known for his exceptional technical precision and quiet, refined forms. Trained as a thrower and later working as a studio ceramicist at Gustavsberg, Friberg developed a highly controlled aesthetic where form and glaze were treated as inseparable elements. His work is often characterized by subtle proportions, meticulous craftsmanship, and an emphasis on surface quality rather than overt ornamentation.

Gustavsberg was a leading Swedish ceramics manufacturer, particularly influential in the mid 20th century through its art studio, where designers such as Friberg, Stig Lindberg, and Wilhelm Kåge produced limited and studio-quality works alongside industrial production. Vases like this example reflect the studio’s focus on technical excellence and material sensitivity during the Scandinavian modern period.

The vase is in excellent vintage condition, with no visible cracks, chips, or restorations. Minor variations in the glaze and firing marks are inherent to the production process and consistent with Friberg’s studio work.

Dimensions are approximately 8 cm in diameter and 27 cm in height, corresponding to about 3.15 inches in diameter and 10.63 inches in height.