Scandinavian Designer Stig Lindberg - the multitalented craftsman active during the golden design years

Stig Lindberg (1916 in Umeå, Sweden – 1982) was a Swedish ceramic designer, glass designer, textile designer, industrial designer, painter, and illustrator. He was active during the “Golden Age” of Scandinavian design and particularly Swedish Industrial Arts. 

Throughout his career, Lindberg was engaged in a large numbers of industrial and personal projects across various materials such as plastic, clay and paper. He is well known for his table services, which include the Berså, Spisa Ribb and Terma lines for Gustavsberg. He also designed art glass for Kosta Boda and Holmegaard and textiles for Nordiska Kompaniet. 

One of Sweden's most important postwar designers, Lindberg created whimsical studio ceramics and graceful tableware lines during a long career with the Gustavsberg pottery factory. Stig Lindberg studied painting at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design. In 1937, he went to work at Gustavsberg under Wilhelm Kåge. In 1949, he was named Kåge's successor as art director. From this period until he left Gustavsberg in 1980, he designed individual ceramic items, as well as factory produced ranges and lines of dinnerware. He achieved fame for his eccentric forms and whimsical decoration. 

Lindberg proved a highly adaptable craftsman, and his output included high quality stoneware and plastic household articles; Lindberg was also responsible for much of the graphic art used in Gustavsberg's advertising. Personal projects included the illustration of children's books and experimental stoneware. Many of Lindberg's works exhibits an undeniable merging of his individual style of craft with industrial techniques.

Career of Stig Lindberg

• 1937–1957 and 1970–1980 Gustavsberg porcelain, art director (1949–1957, 1972–1978)

• 1947–1982 Nordiska Kompaniet, textile designer

• 1957–1970 University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, Konstfack, senior lecturer

• 1980–1982 Own studio, Italy

Awards

• 1948, 1957 Milan Triennale, gold medal

• 1951, 1954 Milan Trienalle, grand prix

• 1954 Gold Medal Art Industrial Exhibition Madrid

• 1955 Gold Medal at the First International Ceramics Festival in Cannes

• 1957 Gregor Paulsson Trophy

• 1962 Gold Medal at the First International Ceramics Festival in Prague

• 1968 Prince Eugen Medal

• 1970 honorary professorship by the Swedish Government

• 1973 Faenza, Gold Medal

Our current collection of Stig Lindberg fine Scandinavian design items: