Vintage Playful Teapot with Crab-Like Features by Allan Hellman, Sweden, 1982

This playful and unique teapot, has different sides to it. Sometimes it looks like just a quirky tea pot with a bright green inside. But in the view from some angles , this three legged teapot looks like an crab ready to run away! Allan Hellman (1904-1982) is an ceramic artist hailing from the coastal town Lysekil on the west coast of Sweden. with a passion for clay and a deep appreciation for nature, Hellman’s works reflect a playful blend of organic forms and somewhat naive artistic expression. He signed his pieces “Allan Lysekil” and the year the piece was made. Hellman draws inspiration from the rugged coastal landscapes of Lysekil, infusing his creations with the essence of the sea and the surrounding natural elements. His art often features marine themed objects with brown glaze on the outside with strong colored glaze on the inside and earthy color palettes, showcasing his deep connection to the environment. He expertly manipulates the clay, skillfully shaping it into vessels, sculptures, and decorative objects that embody a sense of playfulness and usually with a marine theme. Each piece is meticulously and uniquely handcrafted, imbued with a distinct personality and a touch of the artist’s soul. Hellman was both an engineer and ceramic artist Allan. He was the initiator of the formation of the RFSL – Riksförbundet För Seuxuellt Likaberättigande (National Association for Sexual Equality) in Sweden in 1950 and is said to be the first man to openly tell the press that he was homosexual. In a newspaper article with the heading “Sweden’s bravest man” in 1951, he tells about his life. In 1951, he founded a social association for homosexuals in Gothenburg, called Friends Club, but the association only survived for a couple of years. In 1967, Hellman formed an RFLS branch in Gothenburg which was called the Friends Club. In 1981, the RFSL instituted an award which was named the Allan Hellman Award. Allan Hellman has also given his name to the men’s choir Hellmans Drengar, formed in Gothenburg in 1994.