(Exhibition text in English, referring to a QR code in the exhibition)
Beautiful Household Items
In the 1910s, the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design (Svensk Form), inspired by the Deutscher Werkbund in Germany, starts contracting skilled designers for the industry sector. Textile artist Elsa Gullberg is in charge of finding suitable artists. Painter Edward Hald creates designs for Rörstrand Porcelain Factory and Orrefors Glassworks. The painter and commercial artist Wilhelm Kåge works for the Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory. Their designs are a huge success at the 1925 Paris exhibition.
In 1927, Elsa Gullberg founds the company Elsa Gullberg – Textiles and Furnishings with the aim of creating artistic textiles of the highest possible quality. Table settings with her colourful textiles and new, modern tableware become incredibly popular.
A few objects
Edward Hald’s Halda tableware with lush, kurbits-inspired blue decor is produced in the 1920s. The white tureen, also available with hand-painted decor, is on display at the Gothenburg Exhibition in 1923.
Wilhelm Kåge has the ability to design functional, yet pleasing everyday tableware, and several of Gustavsberg’s porcelain ranges turn into modern classics. The oven-proof Pyro range, with its simple, functionalist design and brown decor is launched at the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition. Pyro is a huge success, and new pieces and colours are added. Kåge’s Tussilago (Coltsfoot) decor, launched the same year, is not a hit with everyone. Critics do not like the idea of ’weeds’ on their plates. Regardless, the range is still a major commercial success.