Vicke Lindstrand – A rare sculpture of a ‘Mandrill’ monkey – Upsala-Ekeby, Sweden 1940s

A rare and large size sculpture of a ‘Mandrill’ monkey, executed in glazed Chamotte-clay. This piece was sculpted by the Swedish artist Vicke Lindstrand in 1947 and was made at the well known ceramics factory Upsala-Ekeby AB in Uppsala, Sweden around that same period.

The depicted Mandrill is modelled with a powerful, compact stance and an expressive character. The dark textured body contrasts beautifully with the vividly coloured blue and red facial markings.

About Vicke Lindstrand

Vicke (Viktor Emanuel) Lindstrand (Gotheborg, Sweden 1904 – Kosta, Sweden 1983) is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Swedish glass design. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, he combined artistic innovation with exceptional technical skill, helping to establish Swedish art glass as an international benchmark for quality and creativity. Working across glass, ceramics, textiles, painting and illustration, Lindstrand was a remarkably versatile designer, although it is his glass that remains his most enduring legacy.

Born in Gothenburg, Lindstrand initially trained in commercial art and worked as an illustrator before joining Orrefors in 1928. His arrival coincided with a transformative period in Swedish design, and he quickly emerged as one of the factory’s leading artistic talents alongside Simon Gate and Edward Hald. At Orrefors he developed a highly individual style, combining finely engraved decoration with sculptural forms and bold, often figurative imagery. During the 1930s he played an important role in the development of the celebrated Ariel technique, created in collaboration with Edvin Öhrström, which introduced dramatic layers of trapped air within thick crystal and remains one of the defining innovations in twentieth-century studio glass.

After leaving Orrefors in the early 1940s, Lindstrand became artistic director at Upsala-Ekeby, where he applied his distinctive visual language to stoneware and decorative ceramics. His ceramic work demonstrates the same imaginative character found in his glass, with stylised figures, animals and expressive surface decoration. In 1950 he accepted the position of artistic director at Kosta Glassworks, where he remained until his retirement in 1973. This proved to be another highly productive period, during which he introduced innovative techniques, created sculptural glass, engraved exhibition pieces and elegant production designs that balanced technical mastery with artistic expression. Many of his best-known works, including the Winter series and sculptural sommerso pieces, date from these years.

Lindstrand’s work received international recognition throughout his career. He exhibited at major international exhibitions, including the Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 and the Paris Exposition of 1937, where Swedish glass attracted worldwide acclaim. His designs were awarded Grand Prix honours at international exhibitions during the 1930s, reflecting Sweden’s leading position in decorative arts during the period. He also participated in the art competitions of the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games, an unusual distinction for a designer.

Today, Vicke Lindstrand’s work is represented in many important museum collections, including the Nationalmuseum, the Moderna Museet, the British Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. His work continues to be sought after by collectors for its technical sophistication, sculptural quality and timeless originality. Whether created at Orrefors, Upsala-Ekeby or Kosta, Lindstrand’s designs remain among the most significant achievements of Scandinavian twentieth-century decorative arts, reflecting an artist who consistently combined innovation with an unmistakable personal vision.