VICKE LINDSTRAND. Figure, “Eskimo”, Upsala-Ekeby, 1947-74.

Glazed earthenware. Standing figure, model 90, height 31 cm.

Background: Vicke Lindstrand (1904-1983) was more than a glass artist became known to the world when he worked as a ceramist at Upsala-Ekeby for a period of ten years, c. 1941-51. There his sculptural skill came into its own, in the form of gazelles, bears, zebras, and many other wild animals, but also of people in motion, such as the Potato Picker and the Dancer. His elephant with trumpeting proboscis became popular in the depths of the people and one of the factory's most recognisable items, in production long after he left the factory.

He was also a prolific designer of vases and objects, and his soft, organic and vivid expression can be said to embody the spirit of the Swedish Modern style, which broke through with the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Vicke Lindstrand's ceramics have been a collector's item for a long time, but in recent years a greater interest in his series of vases and bowls has been noticeable.