Description

Internationally famous Gustavsberg, Sweden, the only remaining Swedish porcelain manufacturer still manufacturing bone china and stone ware in the factory situated in the vicinity of Stockholm, Sweden since 1825, made this series of Stockholm sceneries for the Stockholmsgillet (i.e. the Stockholm Guild). The Series was made in an annual limited edition of which some were a First Day edition with gold stamp, the others a “standard” version. They were sold at the traditional Christmas market at Stortorget in the Gamla Stan / Old Town, Stockholm.

This plate – Julen 1979 / Christmas 1979 – is number 7 in the Series. First Day edition. It is called Karl XIV Johans staty vid Slussen / King Charles XIV John’s statue at Slussen. The picture is made from a colour lithograph by Carl Johan Billmark, adapted by Sven Jonsson. The Statue of King Charles XIV John was unveiled in 1954. The reconstruction of the Slussen parts of Stockholm during the 1930s meant that the statue had to be moved a bit and turned to the opposite side, i.e. “riding out of Stockholm”. The recent reconstructions of Slussen caused the statue to be moved once again and in 2018 it was re-inaugurated at Slottsbacken (an open place in the Gamla Stan / Old Town on the south side of the Stockholm Royal Castle) by King Carl XVI Gustaf in the presence of the Swedish Royal family.

The plate is made of bone china in a limited edition of 2500 pieces of which 700 was made with a first day edition stamp in gold, and sold only on the first day of the Christmas market. The plate has its stamp in gold on the backside as well as two stars in gold on the front. It is also stamped with the famous Gustavsberg anchor logotype, and has a sticker attached with the date of the purchase and Sven Jonsson signature. Ø ca 22 cm / approx. 8,5 inches. The plate has never been displayed. The front is in excellent condition, the backside has some chip-like holes in the bone china glaze, due to the manufacturing process. (I notice this on all Gustavsberg’s plates.) Comes with the original box and a suspension device inside box. These plates are genuine Stockholmiana.

Made in Sweden.