Stig Lindberg A Swedish design Icon

Stig Lindberg – Industrial designer, ceramist and illustrator. He was born in Umeå, but began his career at Gustavsberg´s Porcelain factory in the summer of 1937. After many years of work, he became Wilhelm Kåge’s successor as the artistic leader. His decorated faience, with a character totally of its own and his fanciful stoneware were pioneering during the whole of the 1940’s and 50’s. His horse have such character to them.

Lindberg also created decorative works of art for public environments, several of them in enamel, mostly during the last period of his career. His co-operation with NK’s Textile Studio was initiated in 1947, when the legendary leader of the Textile Studio, Astrid Sampe and Stig Lindberg became friends.

Some of the best Swedish textile design was created in the 1950’s under the leadership of the legendary Astrid Sampe. Design House Stockholm has chosen to reproduce Stig Lindberg’s widely acclaimed Lustgården (Garden of Eden), andPottery, which bears the hallmark of the Swedish Modern movement. Thanks to collaboration with Ljungbergs Textiltryck, the textile printing company responsible for the prints in the original launch, the quality is as high as when Astrid Sampe’s Signed Textile Collection was first shown in 1954.  The fabric is sold in 10-metre rolls and is suitable as upholstery textiles. You can find out more here.

More textile designs and you can also find samples to buy here.

Lindberg is mostly known for his work during the golden age of the Swedish art industry ranging from the 1940’s to the 1980’s. Especially during the 1950’s and the 1960’s, Lindberg was one of the most prominent Swedish designers. Today, his work is highly coveted, and even the small, simple pieces of his work generate high prices. Such beautiful shapes and colours.

Some fun and figures.

Lindberg studied at the Swedish State School of arts, crafts and design in Stockholm, hoping to become a painter.

It’s interesting to note that fellow swedish ceramist Lisa Larson must have worked with Lindberg at Gustavsberg. See here how they each interpreted similar themes.

Stig Lindberg illustrated Lennart Hellsing’s children’s books and together they renewed books for children in Sweden towards the end of the 1940’s and onwards until today. Stig even designed beautiful television sets for Luma.

I came across the work of Jan Skácelík who works as a graphic designer / photographer / composer in Olomouc Czech Republic. He has created a wonderful set of  inspired prints based on Lindbergs’ work, and very reasonably priced too ! Jan writes a blog, all about stylish mid century design, have a look here.

Stig Lindberg achieved fame for his eccentric forms and whimsical decoration and his stylish work will continue to influence and inspire.