Berndt Friberg "Nebula" Bowl

Berndt Friberg's ceramics for Gustavsberg are some of the finest examples of wheel-thrown pottery of the 20th century. His stunning portfolio of work is characterised by intricate glazes, exquisite forms, and an unsurpassed level of skill & craftpersonship.

This porcelain bowl was handmade by Friberg in 1972, and features a beautifully varied glaze of aubergine, turquoise, green and grey.

The complex, dappled glaze is reminiscent of celestial clouds and distant galaxies; an organically-applied green-grey glaze creates an intricate speckled pattern within the bowl's interior. A pool of bright turquoise forms in the bowl's centre, while a degraded grey rim blends gently into the bowl's main body of deep aubergine purple.

Where the bowl's interior is reminiscent of a distant nebula, the exterior of this piece is seemingly from Earth, with bands of colour that resemble an amethyst rock. 

The shape, quality, and proportions of this bowl exemplify Friberg's expertise as a potter; its thin, hand-thrown porcelain walls, perfect form and stunning glaze combine to create an exquisite work of art, and a masterful lesson in design.