Prof. Francesco Carelli

design flower holder

Swedish ceramic artist Carl-Harry Stålhane (1920 – 1990) played a major role in popularizing Swedish pottery during the 20th century, working for more than three decades at Rörstrand, one of the oldest ceramics manufacturers in Europe. During his long tenure at Rörstrand, Stålhane was responsible for small-batch studio pieces, mass-produced tableware, and all manner of decorative accessories.

Stålhane decorated various ceramic pieces, most notably Nylund’s Flambé range (1939s), quickly establishing himself as a talented ceramic artist. Inspired by the desire for new products during the postwar economic boom, Stålhane went from being a talented decorator to an exceptional ceramic artist.In 1943, Stålhane caught the eye of Swedish artist Isaac Grünewald (1889-1946), who was visiting Rörstrand. Grünewald was so impressed with Stålhane’s work that he took him on as a student, and from 1943 to 1946, Stålhane studied art at Grünewald’s Art School in Stockholm. In 1958, Stålhane became succeeded Nylund as Artistic Director and Chief Designer at Rörstrand.
In the 1960s, he unveiled a new collection, eaturing dark stoneware pieces made from local clays and this collection represented a bold departure from the soft, restrained shapes of the 1950s. It has since been praised for its prescient aesthetic that would influence the look of ceramics for more than a decade.
His work is represented at several international museums, including Stockholm’s National Museum and New York’s MoMA.