Stig Lindberg (1916-1982), a Swedish ceramic artist and designer, continues to be loved by many people worldwide as one of the leading designers of the 20th century.

Stig Lindberg joined the Swedish porcelain manufacturer Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory as a designer in 1937.

His designs, born from his pursuit of functionality, harmony, and beauty, and his challenge to new forms of expression with original ideas, remain popular as representative products of the company even more than 40 years after his death.

This exhibition will showcase approximately 300 works from the late 1930s, when he began his career as a designer, to the early 1980s, his later years. The exhibited works include tableware such as cups and plates, as well as popular faience (tin-glazed earthenware), studio-produced textiles and original sketches, and pieces he kept until his later years, offering a comprehensive view of Stig Lindberg's design. All exhibited works are precious private collections from Stig Lindberg's estate and his family. With the current focus on modern Nordic design, this exhibition aims to reintroduce Stig Lindberg as a great artist who was a pioneer of 20th-century design, showcasing works and stories that have not been introduced in Japan before, along with his artistic sensibility.

A Message from the Curator

Lars Dueholm-Lindberg

The city of Umeå in northern Sweden, where my father Stig was born and raised, is known as the "City of Birches," and birches greatly influenced his life and creative activities. His representative work, [Berså], features a birch leaf motif, and [Birka] was inspired by birch bark, both of which have been loved as timeless products for a long time.

This exhibition will introduce many of the works Stig created from his early years to his later life. Please enjoy the world of works and designs he built throughout his life at the venue.

<Profile>

Stig Lindberg's eldest son. For many years, he has been dedicated to documenting, compiling, and publicly presenting his father Stig Lindberg's artworks. He has organized exhibitions of Stig Lindberg's works in collaboration with renowned museums in Sweden such as the Gustavsberg Porcelain Museum (2016), Millesgården Museum (2021-2022), and Västerbottens Museum (2022-2023), as well as with Seibu Department Store in Tokyo (2017).

Exhibition Overview

Exhibition Title: Stig Lindberg Exhibition: Master of 20th Century Nordic Design

Dates and Venue: September 9 (Wed) - September 21 (Mon, Holiday) Yokohama Takashimaya, 8th Floor Gallery

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM (Closes at 7:00 PM) *Last day until 4:30 PM (Closes at 5:00 PM)

Admission Fees (Tax Included): General ¥1,200, University/High School Students ¥1,000, Junior High School Students and Younger Free

*Admission tickets can be purchased at Asoview, Lawson Ticket (L-code: 34290), and Seven Ticket (Seven code: 116-092) until noon on September 21 (Mon, Holiday).

Organizer: Stig Lindberg Exhibition Executive Committee

Special Cooperation: Stig Lindberg Design AB, Vieras-Steel Design & Production HB

Support: Embassy of Sweden

Cooperation: Finnair, Finnair Cargo Planning Cooperation: Art Impression

For details on admission, please visit the Yokohama Takashimaya website.

See Details

Highlights

1. Approximately 300 representative works by Stig Lindberg, one of the masters of 20th-century Nordic design, from the late 1930s when he began his career as a designer to the early 1980s, his later years, including pieces never before shown in Japan. The exhibited works are precious private collections from Stig Lindberg's estate and his family.

2. Showcasing the charm of Stig Lindberg's diverse designs, including his representative tableware, as well as popular faience, one-of-a-kind artware, figurines, and textiles.

3. Works created by Lindberg, inspired by Japanese aesthetics, reflecting his affection for Japan and his numerous interactions with Japanese people.

【Stig Lindberg (1916-1982)】

Stig Lindberg announcing the "H55" exhibition, 1955 ©Stig Lindberg/Bus

Joined the Swedish ceramics manufacturer Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory as a designer in 1937.

His designs, which pursued functionality, harmony, and beauty, and continuously challenged new forms of expression based on original ideas, are still highly regarded today and remain popular as representative products of the company, cherished by many people more than 40 years after his death.

Born August 17, 1916, in Umeå, Västerbotten County, northern Sweden

Studied at Tekniska skolan (School of Arts and Crafts) in Stockholm (now University College of Arts, Crafts and Design <Konstfack>) (1935-1937)

Began working at Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory in 1937, apprenticed to Art Director Wilhelm Kåge

Married Gunnel in 1939

In 1942, the art department "Gustavsberg Studio" was established at Lindberg's suggestion

Provided designs for printed textiles for Heyman & Olsen in 1944

Served as Art Director for Morbergs Glassworks (1945-1947)

Joint exhibition by Wilhelm Kåge, Bertil Friberg, and Stig Lindberg (NK Department Store)

Provided designs for printed textiles in collaboration with Astrid Sampe, head of the textile department at NK Department Store in Stockholm, in 1947

Illustrated his first picture book, "Curiosity in the Candy Bag" (written by Lennart Hellsing), and subsequently illustrated many children's books in collaboration with Lennart.

Provided designs for printed textiles for Knoll Textiles in New York, USA, in 1948

Succeeded Wilhelm Kåge as Art Director of Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory (1949-1957)

Lisa Larson was hired by Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory at Stig's invitation in 1954

Served as a lecturer at Konstfack*1 (1957-1960) Resigned from Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory

Exhibited at the 11th Milan Triennale (Italy) and won the Gold Medal

Provided designs for playing cards for Webers & Son*2 in 1958

Designed the "Lumavision LT 104" rotary screen television in 1959

Visited Japan to promote Swedish design, touring traditional pottery production areas such as Seto and Shigaraki. / Lindberg's work was featured in "Kogei News" 27(7) (edited by the Industrial Arts Institute, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, published by Maruzen) (Japan)

Designed wrapping paper for Seibu Department Store in Japan

[Berså] was released (Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory) in 1960

Received the Prince Eugen Medal

Awarded the title of Honorary Professor at Konstfack by the Swedish government in 1970

Returned to Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory (1970-1980)

Served as Art Director of Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory (1972-1980)

Won the Gold Medal at the 30th International Ceramics Competition of Faenza (Italy)

Gunnel, his wife, passed away in 1975

Featured as a representative Swedish ceramic artist at the "World Contemporary Crafts Exhibition - Scandinavian Crafts" in 1978, exhibiting "Plates" and "Vases" (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto) (Japan)

Moved to Italy in 1979. Opened an atelier

Collaborated with ceramic artist Sven Wejsfelt on the stone wall of Hotel Al Rashid (started in 1978, Baghdad, Iraq) in 1982

Passed away in Italy on April 7, 1984

"Stig Lindberg: Tusenkonstnären" by Gieru Eron was published in 2003

The Japanese translation of "Stig Lindberg: Tusenkonstnären," "Stig Lindberg Sakuhinshu," was published in 2004 (published by Petit Grand Publishing)

Exhibition "Stig Lindberg" at the National Museum of Sweden in 2006

In 2016, the exhibition "Stig Lindberg Exhibition" was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth (Gustavsberg Porcelain Museum). The same exhibition was also held in Japan (Tokyo/Seibu Department Store Ikebukuro Main Store, Seibu Gallery).

*1 University College of Arts, Crafts and Design *2 J.O. Öberg & Son

Exhibition Structure

Chapter 1: Tableware 1940-1980

This section comprehensively introduces Stig Lindberg's tableware, from his early works around 1940 to his final designs in the early 1980s. It features not only the famous [Berså], [Prunus], [Salix], and [Pintura] series from the 1950s and 1960s, but also lesser-known series in Japan such as [Ting].

[Berså] decoration, [LL] model/dinner set 1957/model, 1960/decoration Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed [Birka] decoration, [LT] model/dinner set 1973 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed

Chapter 2: "H55" (Helsingborg International Exhibition of Architecture and Industrial Design)

This section introduces works exhibited at the historic international exhibition held in Helsingborg, Sweden, in 1955, which played a leading role in 20th-century Nordic design. It features stoneware tableware series such as [Terma], [Spisa Ribb], [Colorado], and [Domino].

[Colorado] decoration, [LA]・[ST]・[WB] models/dinner set 1938・1944・1953/model, 1955/decoration・glaze Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed [Terma] series/cooking set and sketch 1955 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed

Chapter 3: Faience

This is a major section showcasing the faience (tin-glazed earthenware) works Lindberg produced over many years. It includes hand-painted floral and geometric patterns from the 1940s and 50s, the [Carnival] series with combined printed and hand-painted decorations from around 1960, and the [Fajans Again] series with clear stripes from 1966.

Covered jug with flowers 1940s Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed [Carnival] series/Flutist and Flower Vase for a Woman c. 1957-1962 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed

Chapter 4: Artware

"Artware" refers to objects produced by Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory for mantelpieces and bookshelves, distinct from dinnerware. Lindberg contributed to Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory's artware production for decades with designs such as the elegant monochrome [Vekla] and [Pungo] series from the 1950s, and the [Gracie] and [Filigran] series with hand-painted silver decorations.

This section showcases his asymmetrical shapes and techniques combining form and decoration.

Chapter 5: Figurines (People and Animals)

Lindberg created innovative figurines of people and animals. His small figures, sculptures, and reliefs reveal his rich imagination and desire to experiment with various materials and manufacturing methods. This section features a wide range of works, including horse figurines from the familiar [Springare] series and porcelain made of unglazed white parian.

[Springare] series/Large Horse 1958 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed [Zoo] series/Bear, Wild Boar, Elephant, Hippopotamus, Giraffe, Monkey, Walrus, Buffalo 1940 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed

Original drawing for textile print [Printan] 1947 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed [King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie] / Tapestry 1967-1973 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed

Chapter 9: Stig Lindberg and Japan

Lindberg developed a fondness for Japan and had many interactions with Japanese people through his trip to Japan in 1959 and visits from Japanese designers and businessmen to the Gustavsberg factory. This chapter introduces works created by Lindberg inspired by Japanese aesthetics.

(From left) "Teapot" 1960, 1965 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed (From left) "Bird and Flower Large Plate," "Tile" 1960s Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed

[Baby] decoration, [SB] model/Children's tableware set 1951 Lindberg family collection © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed [Comedia]/Playing cards (double) 1958 © Stig Lindberg Photo: Per Myrehed

Works by Lisa Larson also on display!

Photo: Nationalmuseum

Works by Lisa Larson, a leading Swedish ceramic designer and a student whose talent was discovered by Stig Lindberg, will also be specially exhibited.

Plenty of original merchandise available only at the exhibition venue!

Top left)

7cm Mug Cup (Berså) (approx. 10.5 x height 7cm) ¥1,980

Bottom left)

Shallow Rectangular Container M (Berså) (approx. 7.5 x 11.5 x height 5.5cm) ¥2,640

Right)

1.0L Drip Pot (Berså) (approx. 21.5 x 11 x height 18cm) ¥4,400

Fluffy Bag Charm (Berså/Pall)

(approx. 8.5 x 8.5cm) Each ¥7,150

Inquiries: Yokohama Takashimaya (Main) 045-311-5111

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