THE ITEM
This stunning work of art by Roger Guerin hints at Northwest Pacific tribal symbolism with the abstract bear and jay bird decor. This hand thrown vase is a outstanding example of his work, featuring unusual spouts and additions to its shape as well as hand-incised decorations offers high artistic value.

The piece is also hand glazed with a rich mix of earth tones and shades of cobalt blue, copper, pale green, deep and light browns. The special technique of salt glazing give a beautifully rich and variegated surface effects, making it even more unique.

CONDITION

Excellent, wear is consistent with age and use.

MEASUREMENTS
c. 10.2" / 26 cm tall by c. 8" / 20 cm across the body's widest point

Unpackaged weight: c. 1.8 kg / 1,817 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

Research into this piece has validated its rarity, with only one other piece by Roger Guerin that is also available for sale and although is similar in style, but different in decoration: Roger Guerin Double-Sided Vase

A BIT OF HISTORY

Belgian leading ceramicist Roger Guerin or Guérin (1896-1954 ) was a renowned Belgian studio master ceramicist from the village of Bouffioulx near Charleroi. He started his own workshop in 1918 and specialised in experimental salt glaze techniques at the height of the Art Deco era.

Guerin's use of flowing glazes was typical in his work and he was true to the history of this region, often working on a type of hard ceramic (fired to over 1250 degrees Celsius), which had been made there since the late Middle Ages. His work won a medal at the Paris Exposition des Arts Décoratifs in 1925, and was exhibited in 1937 as well as internationally.

Guérin pottery was produced in short runs. Each piece is numbered and unique, which makes them extra special to have and enjoy.

THE ITEM
This exquisitely simple yet detailed work of Modernist art glass is by renowned glass artist and designer Sven Palmqvist (b. 1906 - d. 1984), one of the great innovators of Swedish glass. 

This sculpted glass features the Palmvist's Kraka technique developed in 1944, which creates the illusion of a net within the glass. The technique uses copper wire which traps air bubbles when the outer encasing of glass is applied. These beautifully patterned pieces were created by hand. The Kraka series was produced from 1944 until 1986, the colour scheme of these pieces was white until 1947 before it became the well-known golden-yellow and blue. 

This piece is particularly special as it is from the Kraka Gallery. The form of this piece is a superbly balanced tear-drop shape and an excellent canvas to highlight the spectrum of oceanic blues cradled in an edging of yellow.

The name “Kraka” was inspired by the old Nordic Legend of Kraka from when she appeared before Ragnar Lodbrok to answer his riddle of how you could be “neither dressed, not undressed”, Kraka solved the riddle by appearing wrapped in a fishnet.

CONDITION

Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild wear commensurate with the age of the piece - please refer to photos as part of the condition report. The label denoting 'ORREFORS SWEDEN' is present. The base is inscribed with 'Orrefors 958140 Kraka' and Palmqvist's 'Sven Palmqvist' signature. This piece is additionally inscribed with 'Kraka Gallery 2-89'. 

MEASUREMENTS

Height: c. 8.3" / 20 cm tall (from base to rim) x 2.4" /  6.2 cm in base diameter. Diameter across widest point: c. 5.7" / 14.5 cm. Rim diameter: c. 1.5" / 3.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 3.2 kg / 3,168 g

NOTES

Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Sven Palmqvist (b. 1906 - d. 1984) is best known for his collaboration with the famous glassworks Orrefors where he developed a number of new art glass techniques. He developed the Kraka technique in 1944, then came Ravenna in 1948. Another notable success by Palmqvist was Fuga, which involved centrifuging the glass in a scaled and rapidly rotating form, instead of blowing the glass. 

Palmqvist’s distinguished career with Orrefors spanned over four decades, the creative and versatile designer also created a number of commissioned pieces for public spaces including glass sculptures that can be seen in churches in Sweden, the entrance to the SVT television studio in Stockholm, the National Museum of Sweden, the Kalmar Art Museum as well as in the decoration of a ministerial palace in Dubai.

Orrefors Glassworks (1898 - 1989)

Orrefors glassworks was a glassworks in the Swedish village Orrefors in Småland. Founded in 1898 on the site of an older ironworks, Orrefors originally produced mainly window glass and bottles and it would be 1913 before their range began to expand to drinking glasses and vases. Orrefors first attempts at art glass making were in the style of the famous French glassworks such as Daum and Gallé.

During its long history, Orrefors was host to a vast number of glass artists and designers including the likes Edward Hald, Vicke Lindstrand, Edvin Öhrström, Anne Nilsson and Sven Palmqvist. 

The original Orrefors glassworks became part of the Kosta Boda group in 1989. 

THE ITEM
This exceptional work of mid-century Modernist design is by the renowned ceramic artist and designer Gunnar Nylund, (b.1904 - d.1997). Nylund became well known for his 'matte feldspar' glazed stoneware, crystal glazes and for his stoneware animal sculptures. This piece was designed during his time as artistic director at Rörstrand.

This sculpture is flowing in form, with beautifully sculpted minimalist contours which quietly highlights its muscular feinting posture. The piece is glazed using the matte black on pale green glaze used in Nylunds 'Caolina' series.

Both the form and the glaze of this piece is a rarely seen combination by Nylund, the silky smooth glazed decor and form makes this a very tactile piece. This sculpture would be well suited to a room with decor inspired by Mid Mod, Modernist, Contemporary or even Industrialist themes.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs - please refer to photos as part of the condition report. The base bears the inscribed Rörstrand stamp that bears the inscription of 'Rorstrand' and Nylund's initials 'GN'.  

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 4.5" / 11.5 cm by c. 7.8" / 20 cm in length (from nose to tail) by c. 3.6" / 9.1 cm in width (across body's widest point). Unpackaged weight: 0.8 kg / 845 g

NOTES
Sculpture will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Gunnar Nylund (1904–1997)
Nylund was a Swedish ceramic designer since the 1930s, best known as the artistic director of Rörstrand and was already a well-established ceramic artist in Denmark - first at the Bing & Grøndahl Porcelain factory in Copenhagen and later at Saxbo.

Nylund was resident at Rörstrand from 1931–1955 and for the majority of this time, as artistic director. He became well known for his new matte feldspar glazed stoneware in hare’s fur and crystal glazes and for his stoneware animal sculptures. Over five decades, Nylund crafted some 30 reliefs and sculptures commissioned for public spaces, including Europe’s largest stoneware fountain the “Scanisarius” in Bromölla, Sweden.

Most of Nylund’s original sculptures in stoneware chamotte ended up in museums, as did much of his other work. Sculptures such as the “Lion Head” is found at the National Museum in Stockholm, “Blue Bird” is at the Sèvres museum in Paris, his antelope head “Abyssinian mountain nyala”, is at the Röhsska museet in Gothenburg and the “Hamadryas Baboon” is at the Malmö Museum.

His piece “Bulls head in oxblood” was bought by the Ateneum museum in Helsinki. And a lot of his other work can be found at other museums around the world.

THE ITEM

This magnificent work of handblown Swedish art glass is by Bertil Vallien (b. 1938 - ), celebrated glass artist, sculptor, ceramist and designer. 

This piece is from the collectable 'Volcano' or 'Vulcano' series from the 'Artist Collection'. The Artist Collection concept was introduced by Vallien to give glass artists the freedom for personal, creative expression and to remove the 'mass-produced' feeling. Pieces are limited edition studio works, individual to the artist that created them.

This particular piece is gently freeform and sculptural, substantial, almost boulder-like and is composed of a frosted and iridescent, purple frit-glass giving the closely freckled effect. The iridescence shows of blues, greens and golds. 

Embedded in the body are threads and two discs of red which displays a golden sheen. The veined and myriad decor mimics the moments of lava fragments pooling and coloured with a resplendently oiled iridescence.

CONDITION

Excellent, no chips, cracks or repairs. There is negligible age wear, predominantly to the chrome lamp fitting and is consistent with the age of the piece - please refer to photos as part of the condition report. The base is engraved with 'BODA 98170 B VALLIEN'. The base is also labelled with the 'KOSTA BODA, SWEDEN' paper label. 

MEASUREMENTS

Height: c. 12.6" / 32 cm - including lamp fitting, height: c. 7.5" / 19 cm - excluding lamp fitting. Width: c. 8.3" / 21 cm in x depth: 6.9" / 17.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 2.4 kg / 2,363 g

NOTES

Lamp base will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Born 1938, Bertil Vallien was only 15 when he left home, drawn by the allure of the big city. After a series of occasional jobs, as a window-dresser at one of the main department stores in Stockholm, and as an apprentice in his father's decorating firm, Vallien would eventually decide to become an artist which would lead him into the world of ceramics. The guidance he received in his early career included that of Stig Lindberg - one of Sweden's foremost designers of ceramic art and one of the leading designers for Rörstrand in the 1970's.

A demonstration of Vallien's sand casting process: https://youtu.be/hjW7qoLvwYw

Today, Vallien is one of the most well-known representatives of 20th century Swedish ceramic and art glass design and is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design as well as abroad in the Everson Museum of Art of New York. 

Valiien's works have only become more collectable over the years with sculptures from his Head and Journey (Boat) series fetching up to $20,000 USD. 

DESCRIPTION

This elysian Art Deco stag sculpture is made of lamp worked glass and the work of master glass sculptor Istvan Komaromy (b. 1910 Dusseldorf - d. 1975 London). Described as the 'Michelangelo of glass', Komaromy numbered royal families, amongst those who collected and commissioned his work.

Komaromy produced his work by hand without the use of assistants and all of his glass pieces were made using a Bunsen burner to transform solid or tubular coloured, or opaque glass rods into the most delicate shapes. A short clip of his exceptional talent can be seen in the British Pathe archives: Istvan Komaromy - Blow Pipe Art! 1935

This incredible piece features the stag standing on a black glass ball, a characteristic common to pieces produced in the 1950s, as is the mounting of the piece to the marble plinth. The sculpture is also accompanied by an original brochure.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or scratches, please see photos as part of condition report. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 9.6" /  24.5 cm tall (from horns to plinth base) x c. 4.9" /  12.5 cm width (from nose to tail).

Unpackaged weight:  0.5 kg / 516 g

NOTES
Glass sculpture will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Komaromy was born in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1910, but grew up in Budapest studying science at the university. He began making scientific glassware to sell to his fellow students for additional income, which led him to experiment with creating artistic Art Deco pieces.

Komaromy showed some of his glass pieces to his University professor, who was so impressed that he persuaded Istvan to give up his scientific studies and become a glass artist. He arranged sponsorship so that Komaromy could travel to major exhibitions around Europe, at which the young glass artist was successful in winning a number of gold and silver medals (the estimate is as many as 16).

In the 1930s Istvan set up a glass studio in Budapest with his sister making glass sculptures but his involvement was brief. In 1935 he visited Britain as a celebrity artist, giving demonstrations all over the country including venues specialising in high quality glassware, such as Harrods in London.

He was featured on British Pathe News that year, making a beautiful glass figurine - a 'dancer' - and also a statue of the cameraman filming him. The short film can be seen today in the Pathe News archives on their website at:  

Istvan Komaromy - Blow Pipe Art! 1935

During this time he also met and married and would go on to move to London in 1937 and in 1939, he set up his glass works in Croydon. 

He numbered several Royal families amongst those who collected and commissioned his work. For Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 he made a leaping stag and two does on a wooden stand, known as 'The Leader', as a gift. It is thought that the Queen collected a number of Komaromy's pieces. Although famous for his "dancers" which were popular items and sold very well in specialist glass outlets, he also sculpted other classical figures, animals such as does, stags and horses, both singly and in pairs, candelabras, goblets and decanters, vases, abstract forms and complicated figure studies. He used over 200 kinds of glass, often manufactured by Pilkington's to his own recipes. 

During his lifetime Komaromy frequently featured on television and radio and in art magazines; his work is held in the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and in the Pilkington's Museum of Glass, as well as in the Museum for Applied Arts in Budapest, Hungary.