Vase

This stoneware vase, standing 20.5 cm tall with an 8 cm diameter, presents a vertically oriented cylindrical form subdivided into twelve distinct facets. The regular geometry of its body gives it a subtly sculptural quality, while the clean, straight edges of each plane reinforce a sense of precision and restraint. At the top, the mouth flares only slightly, maintaining the overall simplicity of the piece’s silhouette.

The light cream glaze cloaks the surface in a soft, neutral tone that is characteristic of mid-century Scandinavian ceramics. Over decades in use and on display, the glaze has developed a fine network of craquelure, creating a subtle web of hairline fractures that catch and reflect light. This aged patterning not only adds visual depth but also emphasizes the tactile nature of the glaze, inviting close inspection of the relief work beneath.

Embossed around the circumference of the vase is a stylized climbing-vine motif, each vine segment rising in gentle arcs from one facet to the next. The relief is moderate in depth, producing a rhythmic play of highlights and shadows without compromising the vase’s clean lines. This decorative approach echoes the organic themes often found in Scandinavian design, where natural forms are abstracted into disciplined, repeatable patterns.

On the underside, an impressed “L3” monogram marks the piece’s origin, though the designer remains unidentified. The absence of a recorded name suggests it may have been one of many studio-produced lines from Swedish workshops in the 1960s, when factories often employed in-house artists whose identities were not consistently documented. Nevertheless, the quality of form and finish speaks to a professional studio environment with skilled mold makers and ceramicists.

Condition is good for its age. Aside from the intentional glaze craquelure, there are no visible chips, cracks, or repairs. The relief pattern remains crisp, and the base shows only light wear from placement and handling. This state of preservation ensures that both the structural integrity and the aesthetic subtleties of the vase remain intact.

This vase exemplifies the mid-century Scandinavian ethos of combining sculptural form, restrained decoration, and natural material expression. Its twelve-faceted body and climbing-vine relief render it both a functional vessel and a quietly expressive object, suitable for a range of interior settings that favor geometry, texture, and the subtle poetry of aged surfaces.