Lisa Larson figures: Lilla Zoo, Gustavsberg and collecting

It is hard to walk past a Lisa Larson cat without looking twice. A few dark lines become a face. An upright tail brings the whole body to life. A bulldog simply has to stand there, round and solid, to look as though it has made up its mind.

At Østlandet Brukt & Antikk, our selection brings together several sides of Lisa Larson’s ceramics. Early Lilla Zoo cats and a fox meet a determined bulldog, a lion with a rounded mane and two small hedgehogs. One may fill a gap in an established collection. Another may be the first figure you choose for your bookshelf.

Figures in our online shop: models, measurements and prices

For a quick comparison, here are eight figures available when this article was prepared. Each link shows the actual example, additional photographs and its full condition description.

Browse Swedish ceramics in our online shop. This category also offers a route to current stock after an individual figure featured here has sold.

Who was Lisa Larson?

Lisa Larson was a Swedish ceramic artist, born in 1931, who died in 2024. She joined Gustavsberg in 1954 after Stig Lindberg noticed her work. An initial trial year became 26 years at the factory, where her designs included Lilla Zoo, ABC-flickor and Larsons ungar. She left to work as a freelance designer in 1980.

Although Gustavsberg is associated with porcelain, the animal figures shown here are stoneware. Their material is part of their character. Compare the matt, earthy surfaces with areas where the glaze catches the light. The surface does more than carry decoration: it helps define the animal.

Lilla Zoo: three cats, a fox and enduring forms

Designed in 1955, Lilla Zoo comprises seven animal figures, including three cats. The four examples in our selection share reddish-brown stoneware, pale faces and dark linear decoration.

The sitting cat is tall and slender. The standing cat stretches along its body and raises its tail. The reclining cat gathers into an almost spherical form. The fox is distinguished by its triangular face and curved tail. Seen together, they are different small sculptures rather than variations on a single pose.

The four Lilla Zoo figures are sold individually. See the overview above and their product pages for measurements and prices.

All four are described as being in very good vintage condition with light surface and contact marks. The reclining cat also has a small pale surface mark below its face. Please examine its individual photographs and condition description.

A note on age: 1955 is the design date of Lilla Zoo. Exact production years are undocumented for the eight examples in the price overview. A design date identifies the model’s introduction, not automatically the age of an individual figure.

Bulldog Midi: character in a compact body

The Kennel bulldog shows a different approach to volume. Its body is broad and round, its legs short and its face closely gathered. Dark painted lines emphasise the folds and give the dog a determined expression.

Our Bulldog Midi is approximately 13.5 cm high and retains a Gustavsberg label underneath. Priced at NOK 4 500, it is described as being in very good vintage condition with light surface and contact marks.

Lions: compare the mane, face and size

Comparing Lisa Larson figures reveals how much a small change in proportion can do. Rounded manes frame the lions’ faces, while their painted decoration gives them different expressions. Look closely at the eyes, nose and pattern around the edge.

Our online shop offers Lejon Midi at NOK 2 990. Approximately 14.5 cm high, it is described as an example from older Gustavsberg production. The smaller lion on the right is approximately 9 cm high and is included to illustrate a different size and expression.

This collage combines separate photographs. The figures are not shown to the same scale. The smaller lion is an illustrative example and is not offered through this article.

Piggy and Punky: two distinct hedgehogs

Piggy and Punky introduce a lighter, more graphic character. Piggy has a curled crest, while Punky has a tall, straight crest. Their pale stoneware makes the dark decoration particularly clear.

Both were designed by Lisa Larson for Keramikstudion Gustavsberg and are marked “LISA L.” and “MADE IN SWEDEN” underneath. Piggy and Punky are sold individually at NOK 1 195 each. Follow their product links for markings, additional views and condition descriptions.

A closer look at our sitting cat

These photographs show why it is worth looking beyond the silhouette. Pale glaze meets the dark lines of the eyes and whiskers. A retained blue-and-white Gustavsberg label sits below the face and above the front paws. The underside shows the unglazed stoneware base and the opening into the hollow body.

These are photographs of the sitting cat from Lilla Zoo, not details taken from another figure. Compare the label, construction and form with the overall photograph and product description.

What should you check before buying a Lisa Larson figure?

Start with the model and measurements. A series name and animal type may not be enough. Different sizes can look similar in photographs. Compare height, width and depth with a documented model and the space where you plan to display it.

Examine the underside. Signatures, stamps, labels and construction can help identification. A label may have been lost, and a signature alone does not establish age or authenticity. Consider the markings alongside the form, material and provenance.

Inspect vulnerable areas. Ears, tails, paws and edges deserve particular attention. Look for chips, cracks, adhesive residues and irregularities that may indicate repairs. Ask for close photographs if anything is unclear.

Distinguish variation from damage. Differences in glaze and decoration need to be assessed against the way a model was made. Patina and contact marks indicate use, but do not explain every irregularity.

What affects value?

There is no single price for a Lisa Larson figure. Model, size, production period, condition and documentation must be considered for the individual example. A less common subject and a familiar model in a different size may appeal to different buyers. Completed sales are more informative than high asking prices alone.

In our selection, each Lilla Zoo figure is offered at NOK 1 850, Lejon Midi at NOK 2 990 and Bulldog Midi at NOK 4 500. The bulldog and lion are almost the same height, yet have different forms and model identities. These are our asking prices for the examples photographed, not documented sale results or a general price guide to Lisa Larson’s work.

Collecting often starts with an expression: a cat that recalls one you know, a fox that fits between the books, or a bulldog you keep returning to. Choose a figure you enjoy looking at, then use detailed photographs to understand the particular example you are buying.

Explore the individual figures through the links above, or browse Swedish ceramics in our online shop. Current prices and availability are shown on each product page.

Thinking of selling a figure? Our guide Five photographs that help us assess an object explains what to show us.

Background sources: Store norske leksikon, design historian Mats Linder, and Nationalmuseum: Lisa Larson, folkkär formgivare. Photographs and individual object information: Østlandet Brukt & Antikk.