Spisa Ribb
An everyday tableware service with simple dark stripes that Lindberg designed for Gustavsberg. It has been found in Swedish homes since the 1950s.
The stripes are painted by hand – no two are exactly alike.
Stig Lindberg designed the Spisa Ribb service for the Gustavsberg porcelain factory in 1955. Gustavsberg lay in Värmdö outside Stockholm and was one of Sweden’s largest manufacturers of porcelain and ceramics. From 1937 the factory was owned by the Swedish Co-operative Union, which wanted to produce beautiful, affordable goods for ordinary homes. Lindberg had come to Gustavsberg as a pupil of Wilhelm Kåge and succeeded him as artistic director in 1949.
The service consists of plates, dishes, cups, bowls and other pieces for everyday use. The base colour is light, and the decoration consists of narrow dark brown stripes running around the rims and bodies. The stripes vary in width and spacing, creating a rhythm. There are no flowers or pictures. The name Spisa is an old Swedish word for “to eat”, and Ribb refers to the stripes.
The design is simple and practical. The pieces are rounded and sturdy, and they stack. The stripes follow the form and emphasise it. Form and decoration are designed to withstand daily use, washing-up and stacking. It was a service for the whole household, not for special occasions.
The service was made of earthenware, a type of ceramic that is cheaper than porcelain but fairly durable. The stripes were applied by hand, so each piece differs slightly from the others. The pieces were then glazed and fired. This combination of industrial production and handwork was typical of Gustavsberg at the time.
Spisa Ribb has been interpreted as an expression of 1950s Swedish design, in which the idea of more beautiful everyday things was central. The idea had been launched as early as 1919 by Gregor Paulsson in his essay Vackrare vardagsvara (More Beautiful Everyday Things) and lived on in the Sweden of the folkhem, the welfare state. Design was to be democratic, functional and accessible to all. At the same time, the stripes show Lindberg’s sense of rhythm and playfulness.
Stig Lindberg was one of Sweden’s most versatile designers. He made everything from art pottery and unique pieces to tableware, textiles, illustrations and television sets. His forms were often playful and colourful, with motifs such as leaves, animals and people. He also designed the popular Berså service with green leaves. He died in 1982.
Spisa Ribb was produced in large quantities and was found in many Swedish homes for several decades. It has become a collector’s item, and pieces are often sold at flea markets and auctions. The service has since been relaunched. Examples are in the Nationalmuseum’s design collection, and it is regarded as a classic of Swedish design.