In 1973, after nearly three decades at the prestigious Rörstrand porcelain factory, Swedish ceramic artist Carl-Harry Stålhane made a bold move. Leaving behind the constraints of industrial design, he founded Designhuset, a ceramic studio housed in a converted waterworks facility near Lidköping, Sweden. This marked a turning point in his career—an opportunity to pursue artistic freedom and experiment beyond the bounds of mass production.
At Designhuset, Stålhane explored new dimensions of form, surface, and glaze. His work shifted toward more expressive, often calligraphic decoration, with a focus on the unique qualities of stoneware and porcelain. The pieces created during this period—vases, bowls, and sculptural forms—are celebrated for their spontaneity, texture, and subtle sophistication. Free from the pressures of factory output, Stålhane’s craftsmanship flourished.
Designhuset was more than a personal studio; it became a creative hub for experimentation and education. It provided a space for collaboration with younger artists and craftspeople, fostering innovation in ceramics and design. The legacy of this studio endures not only through Stålhane’s own works, many of which are held in institutions like Stockholm’s Nationalmuseum and MoMA in New York, but also through its continuing role as a ceramics school.
Today, Designhuset stands as a symbol of artistic autonomy, a place where tradition meets bold exploration. Collectors and design enthusiasts continue to seek out pieces from the Designhuset era, drawn to their organic forms, tactile surfaces, and enduring beauty.
