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Rörstrand Sweden
Rörstrand NSZ Stoneware Vase by Gunnar Nylund
Rörstrand NSZ Stoneware Vase by Gunnar Nylund
Regular price
€235,00 EUR
Regular price
Sale price
€235,00 EUR
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Designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, the NSZ stoneware vase pairs a tall, slender profile with a rounded lower body and a long, fine handle. Its deep reddish-brown glaze shows subtle warmer brown and ochre variation.
An original Rörstrand Sweden paper label remains on the upper body, and the base is marked Rörstrand, GN, Sweden and NSZ.
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About the Series: Alphabet Vases
The Alphabet Vases are a large group of stoneware forms developed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand. Each model is identified by a three-letter code rather than a conventional name, making the shape itself the main point of distinction between the different vessels.
The group includes a remarkably broad range of silhouettes. Some forms are tall and narrow, others more rounded or compact, while handles, openings and changes in proportion create further variations. Despite these differences, the vessels share a clear sense of balance and a strong focus on the relationship between shape and surface.
Glaze plays an important role throughout the group. Nylund used different colours, textures and finishes to alter the character of the forms, often allowing natural variations in the ceramic surface to remain visible. The same shape could therefore have a quite different appearance depending on its glaze.
Seen together, the Alphabet Vases offer a particularly clear view of Nylund’s approach to stoneware: a structured system of forms in which material, proportion and glaze provide most of the expression.
About the Designer: Gunnar Nylund
Gunnar Nylund (1904–1997) was a Swedish-Danish ceramic artist and designer whose work extended across ceramics, sculpture and industrial design.
His early experience in Denmark, including his collaboration with Nathalie Krebs at the Saxbo workshop, gave him a strong foundation in ceramic form and material. He later developed an extensive career in Sweden, where Rörstrand became an important part of his professional life.
Nylund was particularly interested in the possibilities of stoneware. His vessels often have carefully controlled proportions, but their surfaces introduce a more variable element through glaze, texture and firing. This contrast between precision and material variation is one of the recurring qualities of his ceramic work.
At Rörstrand, he worked both as a designer and in an artistic leadership role, contributing to the development of the company’s ceramic production during an important period of Swedish modern design.
His work is now regarded as an important part of the history of 20th-century Swedish ceramics, particularly for the way he combined industrial production with a strongly individual approach to form and glaze.
About the Brand: Rörstrand
Rörstrand was founded in Stockholm in 1726 and has one of the longest histories of any Swedish ceramic manufacturer. Its production has changed considerably over the centuries, reflecting the development of both ceramic technology and domestic tableware.
The company moved its manufacturing operations several times during its history. Production eventually became concentrated in Lidköping, where Rörstrand developed into an important centre for Swedish ceramic production during the 20th century.
Rörstrand’s long history is also characterised by the coexistence of practical tableware and more artistic ceramic work. This allowed the company to develop a broad vocabulary of forms, surfaces and decorative approaches rather than a single fixed style.
The Lidköping factory closed in 2005, bringing an end to Rörstrand’s own Swedish manufacturing. The brand itself continued and is now part of Fiskars Group, where Rörstrand remains an active name in Nordic tableware.
Today, Rörstrand connects a long Swedish ceramic tradition with contemporary production, while its historical pieces document several distinct periods in the development of Scandinavian and Nordic design.
The Alphabet Vases are a large group of stoneware forms developed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand. Each model is identified by a three-letter code rather than a conventional name, making the shape itself the main point of distinction between the different vessels.
The group includes a remarkably broad range of silhouettes. Some forms are tall and narrow, others more rounded or compact, while handles, openings and changes in proportion create further variations. Despite these differences, the vessels share a clear sense of balance and a strong focus on the relationship between shape and surface.
Glaze plays an important role throughout the group. Nylund used different colours, textures and finishes to alter the character of the forms, often allowing natural variations in the ceramic surface to remain visible. The same shape could therefore have a quite different appearance depending on its glaze.
Seen together, the Alphabet Vases offer a particularly clear view of Nylund’s approach to stoneware: a structured system of forms in which material, proportion and glaze provide most of the expression.
About the Designer: Gunnar Nylund
Gunnar Nylund (1904–1997) was a Swedish-Danish ceramic artist and designer whose work extended across ceramics, sculpture and industrial design.
His early experience in Denmark, including his collaboration with Nathalie Krebs at the Saxbo workshop, gave him a strong foundation in ceramic form and material. He later developed an extensive career in Sweden, where Rörstrand became an important part of his professional life.
Nylund was particularly interested in the possibilities of stoneware. His vessels often have carefully controlled proportions, but their surfaces introduce a more variable element through glaze, texture and firing. This contrast between precision and material variation is one of the recurring qualities of his ceramic work.
At Rörstrand, he worked both as a designer and in an artistic leadership role, contributing to the development of the company’s ceramic production during an important period of Swedish modern design.
His work is now regarded as an important part of the history of 20th-century Swedish ceramics, particularly for the way he combined industrial production with a strongly individual approach to form and glaze.
About the Brand: Rörstrand
Rörstrand was founded in Stockholm in 1726 and has one of the longest histories of any Swedish ceramic manufacturer. Its production has changed considerably over the centuries, reflecting the development of both ceramic technology and domestic tableware.
The company moved its manufacturing operations several times during its history. Production eventually became concentrated in Lidköping, where Rörstrand developed into an important centre for Swedish ceramic production during the 20th century.
Rörstrand’s long history is also characterised by the coexistence of practical tableware and more artistic ceramic work. This allowed the company to develop a broad vocabulary of forms, surfaces and decorative approaches rather than a single fixed style.
The Lidköping factory closed in 2005, bringing an end to Rörstrand’s own Swedish manufacturing. The brand itself continued and is now part of Fiskars Group, where Rörstrand remains an active name in Nordic tableware.
Today, Rörstrand connects a long Swedish ceramic tradition with contemporary production, while its historical pieces document several distinct periods in the development of Scandinavian and Nordic design.
Details
Origin: Sweden
Designer: Gunnar Nylund
Manufacturer: Rörstrand
Model: NSZ
Series: Alphabet Vases
Production Period: 1950s
Material: Stoneware
Glaze: Reddish-brown with tonal variations
Height: 24 cm
Marking: Rörstrand / GN / Sweden / NSZ
Original Label: Rörstrand Sweden
Designer: Gunnar Nylund
Manufacturer: Rörstrand
Model: NSZ
Series: Alphabet Vases
Production Period: 1950s
Material: Stoneware
Glaze: Reddish-brown with tonal variations
Height: 24 cm
Marking: Rörstrand / GN / Sweden / NSZ
Original Label: Rörstrand Sweden
Condition
First selection vintage condition. The glaze is exceptionally well preserved, with no chips, cracks, restoration or significant signs of wear. The original Rörstrand paper label is also exceptionally well preserved.
Care
Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid soaking or abrasive cleaners, and keep the preserved paper label dry.