Why Lisa Larson Made Her First Brass at 92
Made the cut
In 2023, Lisa Larson told Skultuna that brass had always fascinated her.
She was 92.
She had spent 70 years shaping clay into gentle lions and cats that sit in Swedish homes and Japanese collections. Now she wanted to see her figures cast in what she called “an ancient and genuine material.” The Royal Swedish foundry, operating since 1607, made her vision real.
She died in March 2024.
We tested this lion because the story demanded verification. Two Swedish institutions with documented histories meeting for a final collaboration. The claims were significant. We needed to know if they held.
What We Verified
Skultuna was founded by King Karl IX in 1607. The company holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment from the Swedish Court. These facts appear in their Wikipedia entry with extensive documentation. The foundry has operated at the same location for 417 years.
Lisa Larson lived from September 9, 1931, to March 11, 2024. She worked at Gustavsberg porcelain factory from 1954 to 1980, discovered by Stig Lindberg. The Nationalmuseum Sweden states she is “perhaps Sweden’s most famous ceramicist.”
In 2022, she received the Illis quorum medal, Sweden’s highest civilian honor.
The collaboration quote is real. In 2023, Lisa Larson said: “Brass is also an ancient and genuine material that I have always been fascinated by. Now I look forward to seeing Skultuna make my figures in brass.” The figurines are made of solid polished brass.
How It Scored
The Sitting Lion earned an 8.3 overall. Here is what drove each dimension.
GLOW: 8/10. Solid polished brass from a 417-year Royal Swedish foundry. Weight announces craftsmanship before visual inspection begins. The material transformation from clay to brass creates visual intrigue for those familiar with her ceramic work.
WOW: 9/10. Sweden’s most beloved ceramicist collaborated with Sweden’s oldest foundry for her final designs before passing in March 2024. The combination of National Museum representation, Illis quorum medal recipient, and Royal Warrant foundry creates layered provenance that collectors can verify independently.
MOMENT: 8/10. Palm-sized brass lion with unexpected heft at 53mm. The 2023 quote about Lisa’s lifelong brass fascination gives gifting context. Recipients who know her ceramic work experience surprise at the material transformation. Those meeting her for the first time receive an introduction to a 70-year body of work.
TRUST: 7.5/10. No product-specific reviews exist for this 2023 collaboration. Trust comes from exceptional heritage verification: Skultuna holds Royal Warrant since 1607, Lisa Larson is represented in National Museum, and brand-level Trustpilot shows 4.5 stars across 635 reviews. Both entities have Wikipedia articles with extensive documentation.
The Price Position
Lisa Larson ceramic lions from her 1964 Africa series sell at auction for $174 to $3,950. This brass interpretation costs $145.
The ceramic versions are fragile, hand-painted, vintage. The brass is solid, heirloom-grade, newly made by a Royal Swedish foundry. Ceramic chips. Brass develops patina, each piece aging into its own biography.
At this price point, you get museum-caliber provenance in a material designed to outlast the ceramic it references.
Who This Matches
Scandinavian design collectors who know Lisa Larson from Gustavsberg will recognize the significance immediately. People who track auction prices for mid-century ceramics will appreciate the $145 brass alternative. Anyone whose home already features Scandinavian design will understand the lineage.
For someone who has everything, this lion fills a gap they did not know existed. Collectors seek stories. Lisa Larson’s 70-year ceramic career ending in brass creates an opportunity most miss.
As a thank you gift for colleagues, the lion sits in the sweet spot: beautiful enough to display, interesting enough to explain if asked, professional enough to just appreciate quietly. The solid brass weight at 53mm communicates thought without demanding attention.
The Gift Scene
The solid brass weight registers before the form becomes clear. Small at 53mm, but substantial in the hand.
The lion sits upright, gentle-faced in Lisa Larson’s signature style, warm and humorous rather than fierce. Gold catches light from the polished surface.
For those who know her ceramic work, the form is instantly familiar, the material transformation surprising. For those meeting Lisa Larson for the first time, this becomes their introduction to a 70-year body of work that ended with brass.
Skip If
This lion is not for everyone. Skip if you prefer permanent polish over developing patina. Skip if you need larger decorative scale, as this measures 53mm (2.1 inches). Skip if you want original ceramic texture rather than brass translation. Skip if you require product-specific reviews before buying.
The Bottom Line
A 417-year foundry made this to outlast generations. Lisa Larson ceramics from the 1950s are treasured today. This brass interpretation will age even longer, its patina becoming a record of every hand that holds it.
The story is verifiable. The provenance is documented. The timeline is real: 70 years in clay, then brass, then gone.
