WILHELM KÅGE. “Argenta”, 11 pieces, Gustavsberg.

Stoneware. Glazed in green with silver decor. Model numbers include 1094, 25, 1003, 1094. Diameter 5-16.5 cm.

Wilhelm Kåge was a prominent Swedish ceramist, designer and artist born in 1889 in Stockholm and died on 25 November 1960.

Wilhelm Kåge's career at Gustavsberg's porcelain factory was one of the most significant periods in his life and a crucial factor in the development of Swedish ceramics and design. He began his work at Gustavsberg in the mid-1920s, and his influence on the factory and the development of Swedish ceramics became immediately apparent.

When Kåge started working at Gustavsberg, the factory already had a long history of producing traditional porcelain and ceramics. However, under Kåge's leadership and creativity, Gustavsberg was transformed into a modern and innovative porcelain factory.

His first major success came in 1917 at the Home Exhibition at Liljevalchs in Stockholm, where he created “Arbetarservisen”. This tableware became a breakthrough and attracted the attention of Gustavsberg's management, who asked Kåge to make a temporary contribution to the factory. Kåge said yes, even though he lacked knowledge of pottery production. Nevertheless, he managed to create a unique and successful range for Gustavsberg.

Kåge continued to create a large number of tableware and ceramic objects for Gustavsberg during his years there. His work included tableware such as Pyro, Gold Star and Praktika, all with unique and innovative design elements. Kåge also experimented with different glazes and created Argenta, an art ware range with silver decor, which became very popular.

In 1942, Kåge initiated Gustavsberg's Studio, an experimental workshop where he and his colleagues, including Stig Lindberg and Bernt Friberg, created art objects and developed new tableware concepts. This helped put Gustavsberg at the forefront of modern ceramics.

Kåge worked at Gustavsberg until the early 1950s, when he handed over his role as artistic director to Stig Lindberg. Even after he left day-to-day operations, he continued to work on ceramics and design. In summary, Wilhelm Kåge became known for his pioneering work in ceramics and design, most notably through his innovative tableware and art ware. His influence on Gustavsberg and Swedish ceramics was of great importance, and his works have continued to be sought after.