Berndt Friberg (Swedish, 1899-1981), Studio Pottery Vase

For Gustavsberg, 1964, stoneware vase with rust hare's fur glaze, incised "Friberg/F/[Gustavsberg hand cipher]" to underside.

9 3/8 x 2 3/8 in.

Berndt Friberg was born to a family of potters in Höganäs, Sweden. There, he began work as a pottery apprentice at 13 and worked as a potter in various studios until he was 35. In 1934, he began working at Gustavsberg where he apprenticed and worked as a thrower for art director Wilhelm Kåge. Friberg began producing his own line of pottery at Gustavsberg in 1944, and his works were shown in many solo and group exhibitions.

Because Friberg started as a thrower, rather than as a designer, his work is known for its technical perfection, simplicity of form and glaze, and attention to fine detail. He focused primarily on throwing simple but graceful forms, influenced by Chinese pottery, and monochromatic, “haresfur” glazes. All his studio work is personally thrown and signed by him and ranges in size from miniatures to large floor vases.

Friberg's pottery appears in the photographs of Robert Mapplethorpe, who was a collector, as were King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and Yves Saint Laurent. His work is represented in major museum collections including those of the National Art Museums in Stockholm, Copenhagen, New York, Kyoto, and Tokyo.

Biography courtesy of Freeforms.

Good estate condition.