Porcelain Vase By Björn Wiinblad (1918 - 2006).

A stately home where one of France's most illustrious kings, Francis I, was born. Designed for Rosenthal in the 1960s, this white glazed porcelain piece is exquisitely illustrated and hand-painted in metallic tones against a 24-karat gold marbled background. The design belongs to the "Samurammat" series, inspired by the legends of the powerful queen of the Babylonian Empire. She is depicted as the central figure surrounded by a rich floral motif. The delicate Goldfire glaze, an iridescent enamel, enhances Wiinblad's design. The inimitable style, imbued with romanticism, charm, and whimsy, that made him famous in the 20th century, is perfectly recognizable here. Wiinblad's signature highlights the illustration on the front. The underside bears Rosenthal's Studio Line stamp with the logo, model number, Wiinblad's signature, and the words "Handmade" in German. Height: 21.6 cm. Width: 21.6 cm. Depth: 7.7 cm. Base: 12.5 cm x 6 cm. Weight: 910 g. The artist, illustrator, and ceramicist Bjørn Wiinblad was born in Copenhagen in 1918. From a young age, he expressed a strong interest in the arts. Inspired by music, opera, theater, and the world of fairy tales, Wiinblad explored ceramics, painting, set design for theater and ballet, posters, illustration, glass, tapestry, as well as bronze, furniture, textiles, and wall coverings throughout his career. In 1943, he graduated with a degree in Graphic Arts from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. In 1945, he befriended the designer Jacob E. Bang, who hired him to work for the Danish pottery company Nymølle Fajance Fabrik, which he eventually took over in 1976. His reputation grew in Denmark, then quickly spread to Norway and Sweden. Wiinblad's recognition and renown continued to increase. In 1950, his ceramics were exhibited at Bonnier's in New York, a store specializing in Scandinavian design. He also worked for the United Nations in Paris. He opened his design studio in Lyngby in 1952 and, in 1957, began a collaboration with the German porcelain company Rosenthal, becoming its artistic director in 1960. His colorful and original designs ran counter to typical Danish design, and while others experimented with functionalism, Bjørn Wiinblad preferred a romantic and delicate style, with a rich color palette and undulating lines reminiscent of fairy tales. Through his numerous creations, he had a decisive influence on the whimsical aspects of the Rosenthal Studio-Line. During the 1960s, Wiinblad acquired several ceramic workshops, forging his own path and building his brand simultaneously, driven by a desire to create and share his joy with as many people as possible. He lived and worked in his "Blue House" near Copenhagen. Bjørn Wiinblad's work is featured in the permanent collections of numerous museums worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm. Bjørn Wiinblad died in 2006.