Algot Wilhelm Kåge (6 March 1889 – 25 November 1960) was a Swedish artist and designer, mainly known as a ceramic designer and as the artistic leader of the

Gustavsberg porcelain factory Gustavsberg is a Swedish porcelain company that originated in 1826.Helena Dahlbäck Lutteman. ''Svenskt Porslin 1700-1900'' It broke up in the 1990s and was sold off in pieces, to the dismay of residents of the Gustavsberg area, but artisans con ...

. Kåge studied decorative painting at '' Tekniska skolan'' in Stockholm and later for the painter Carl W. Wilhelmson in Gothenburg,

Johan Rohde Johan Gudmann Rohde (1 November 1856 – 18 February 1935) was a Danish painter, lithographer and designer. He was the principal founder of Den Frie Udstilling, established in 1891 to allow artists to exhibit works which did not fall within the A ...

in Copenhagen and at '' Plakatschule'' in Munich, where he learnt graphic techniques. His early career was dedicated to advertising and the production of posters, but his best known work was in ceramics, begun when he was appointed artistic leader of Gustavsberg in 1917, remaining there until 1949, when he was succeeded by

Stig Lindberg Stig Lindberg (17 August 1916 – 7 April 1982) was a Swedish ceramic designer, glass designer, textile designer, industrial designer, painter, teacher, and illustrator. One of Sweden's most important postwar designers, Lindberg created ...

. He was presented with the

Prince Eugen Medal The Prince Eugen Medal () is a medal conferred by the King of Sweden for "outstanding artistic achievement". The medal was established in 1945 by the then King of Sweden, Gustaf V, in connection with the eightieth birthday of his brother Prince ...

for design that same year. The focus of Kåge's early ceramic designs, as of much of Swedish design of this period was on practical solutions to social issues, an example of which was his ''Praktika'' (1933), a simply designed and stackable set of tableware aimed at working-class families. Praktika was a commercial failure, as the intended buyers preferred more traditional and ornate products. Kåge's most commercially successful design was the green-glazed ''Argenta'' earthenware with decorations in silver, that was produced in many shapes and with many different surface designs.Lundgren p. 744

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References

*Lundgren, Tyra: "Kåge, Wilhelm", in: ''Svenskt biografiskt lexikon'', Vol. 21, pp. 743–745. *Lärkner, Bengt: "1900-1950", in: ''Konst och visuell kultur i Sverige 1810-2000'', Stockholm: Signum, 2007, pp. 137–222.

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