Paul Hoff – Ceramics from Gustavsberg

Arrival at Gustavsberg

Paul Hoff, a ceramics and glass artist, was born in 1945 in Stockholm. He was educated at the city's University of Arts, Crafts and Design in 1963–1968 and, after that, was hired by Gustavsberg's Porcelain Factory in 1969–1974. When he arrived, acknowledged ceramic artists such as Berndt Friberg, Lisa Larson, and Stig Lindberg were already working at the factory.

During this period, Paul designed mainly dinnerware, collector plates, and figurines. Collectors are especially keen to acquire pieces from his "Tarzan" series, a set consisting of four animal figures (fish, horse, lion, and seal) in surreal forms and printed colorful decor.

Swedish king Gustaf VI Adolf, Gustavsberg's artistic leader Stig Lindberg, and Paul Hoff

The Tarzan series from the early 1970s

Success with Endangered Species

Paul Hoff's most well-known design from the Gustavsberg period is, without a doubt, the series ”Arter i fara” (Endangered Species of Animals) from 1973 and onwards. The series consists of about 20 plates with drawn motifs of endangered animals, such as hedgehog, lynx, and fox. The plates became very popular among the collectors, and Paul remained active with the series until 1994.

A selection of collector plates in the "Species in Danger" series 1973–1994

Paul Hoff at Kosta Boda

During 1972–1982, Paul Hoff worked as a designer at the Kosta Boda glassworks. From this period, collectors prize Hoff’s beautiful art glass plates, bowls, and vases. Hoff’s pieces were often made of colorful glass with soft shapes and extremely well-made animal motifs.

Art glass from Kosta Boda 1972–1982

Art glass from Kosta-Boda 1972–1982

Freelance Designer

After this period, Paul formed his own company, "Paul Hoff Design", in Transjö in 1981. Since then, he has received freelance assignments from a number of Swedish ceramics and glass producers, such as Målerås, Rörstrand, and Skruf.

Paul did a well-known series about endangered animals for Gustavsberg in the 1980s. It consisted of large stoneware figurines including mountain fox, toad, and eagle-owl. The series was produced in a limited edition for the department store NK in Stockholm, and part of the profits went to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Each figurine in the series included an original box, information booklet, and numbered certificate of authenticity.

Figurines from the WWF series in the 1980s

Paul Hoff in the 1980s