Gunnar Nylund vase

This is a commanding floor vase conceived in the 1950s by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand’s studio ceramics program. Standing 54 cm tall with a 17 cm diameter at its widest point, the silhouette is composed of a vertically elongated body whose lower section is subtly faceted into flat planes. Above this, the form transitions into a conical neck before culminating in a broad, outward-flaring rim. The overall profile feels both architectural and sculptural, its geometric clarity imparting a sense of restrained monumentality.

The vase is wheel-thrown in dense stoneware, its substantial walls lending it weight and presence. The exterior is enveloped in Nylund’s signature “hare’s fur” glaze, where olive green melds into bands of ochre and deep moss. Fine streaking runs vertically down the facets, the semi-matte surface capturing light differently across ridges and recesses. This layered glaze application builds depth and subtle tonal variation, from dark, almost black-green where the glaze pools, to pale green at the tips of the streaks. The interior is glazed uniformly to protect against moisture, while the unglazed base reveals the natural clay body and bears the Rörstrand factory mark alongside Nylund’s initials and the series code AXT.

Gunnar Nylund (1904–1997) brought a sculptor’s sensibility to ceramics. Trained in both architecture and sculpture, he shaped Rörstrand’s mid-century identity as its artistic director from 1931 to 1955. His experiments with natural ash and iron-rich glazes produced surfaces that seemed alive with movement, yet always remained harmoniously integrated with the form. The hare’s fur glaze, developed in Nylund’s workshop, became a hallmark of Swedish stoneware, prized for its organic striations and muted palette.

Rörstrand, founded in 1726, is one of Sweden’s oldest and most prestigious ceramic manufacturers. By the 1950s the company had cultivated a dual program of industrial tableware and limited-edition art pottery. Under Nylund’s guidance, the studio pieces pushed technical boundaries, employing reduction-firing techniques and carefully calibrated glaze recipes to achieve effects not possible in mass production. Today, these floor vases are celebrated both for their bold scale and for the refined complexity of their glazed surfaces.

This particular example remains in excellent vintage condition. There are no chips, cracks, or evidence of restoration, and the glaze retains its original stratification and semi-matte finish. The unglazed foot shows minimal wear, consistent with careful display. Its height of 54 cm (21.3 inches) and diameter of 17 cm (6.7 inches) make it a striking yet thoughtfully proportioned centerpiece in any collection of Scandinavian mid-century ceramics.