Sweden’s oldest glass company, Kosta Boda, also enjoys a reputation as the country’s most artistic and experimental glassmaker. Since the late 19th century, Kosta Boda has hired painters, sculptors and other artists for short stints — generally two or three years — designing glassware, ensuring that the firm’s aesthetic is always lively and fresh.
Two former army officers founded Kosta Boda in 1742 in Sweden’s densely forested Småland province. (Plentiful timber was needed as fuel for the melting furnaces.) The glassworks’ early products consisted of everyday glassware, such as drinking vessels and windowpanes. As the company recruited master craftsmen from Bohemia, it created fine crystal for an aristocratic clientele.
Kosta Boda began making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Wennerberg worked in the Art Nouveau style and brought a lush, organic look to the company’s wares. He was followed to the firm by artists such as Edvin Ollers, who in the early 20th century created rich geometric and abstract floral patterns that were engraved on clear crystal.
Two postwar Kosta Boda designers stand foremost in the minds of collectors. One is Vicke Lindstrand, who excelled at a technique called cased glass, in which a vividly colored or patterned section of glass is surrounded by and seems to float within a clear crystal body. The other is Erik Höglund, who had an almost artisanal eye for glass shapes, and liked to produce glass that had a textured, warped look.
Kosta Boda created works in an astonishing array of styles, with something to suit any taste.
Find vintage Kosta Boda vases, bowls and other furniture and objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Kosta Boda "Sunflower" Ashtray Art Glass by Goran Warff
By Kosta Boda, Göran Wärff
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
A biomorphic art glass "Sunflower" ashtray by Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda made in Sweden, circa the 1980s. The ashtray is in good vintage condition with no chips or cracks.
Art Glass
Vintage ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda, Sweden, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Amazing ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda made in Sweden in the 1970s. The vintage ashtray is in excellent vintage condition. Dimensions: Width: 15 c...
Glass
Vintage ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda, Sweden, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Amazing ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda made in Sweden in the 1970s. The vintage ashtray is in excellent vintage condition. Dimensions: Width: 16...
Glass
Elis Bergh Submerged Dish in Salmon Glass for Kosta, 1930s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Salmon colored dish or ashtray in submerged/partially collapsed handblown 'Salmon' or Rose glass. Designed by Elis Bergh and manufactured by Kosta Boda in Sweden circa 1930-40. We ha...
Art Glass
Anna Ehrner Kosta Boda Cobalt Blue Crystal Paperweight, 1990s
By Kosta Boda, Anna Ehrner
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda white crystal paperweight or votive candle holder. Kosta Boda white crystal candle holder by Anna Ehrner, 1990s A Kosta Boda votive...
Crystal
$1,500
H 13.25 in Dm 6.25 in
Large Faceted Art Deco Vase with Engraved Mercury by Elis Bergh for Kosta Boda
By Kosta Boda, Elis Bergh
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fantastic, large, faceted Art Deco vase by Elis Bergh for Kosta Boda with an engraved image of the Greek god Mercury in full stride on the front. The base has an etched mark fo...
Art Glass
Vintage Glass Ashtray, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage glass ashtray is an original decorative object realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Glass
Vintage Art Glass Paperweight, Italy, Contemporary Design, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage glass paperweight is an original Contemporary Design Object realized in the 1970s. Original art glass. Made in Italy. Dimensions...
Art Glass
1970s Italian Ceramic Smoking Set: Blue Ashtray & Lighter
Located in Roma, IT
Smoking Set is a decorative object realized in the 1970s. A ceramic blue colored smoking set composed by a lighter and an ashtray. Dimensions: Lighter: h.7.5 x 7 cm Ashtray: h. ...
Ceramic
$180Sale Price|30% Off
H 12 in W 24 in D 10 in
Bohemian Feigl and Morawetz Libochovice Art Deco Glass Polar Bears Ashtray 1930s
Located in Lucenec, SK
Made by Feigl and Morawetz Libochovice and designed by the Czech sculptor Karel Zentner. An antique figurative ashtray made out of clear pressed glass, partially frosted. Figurative ...
Art Glass, Glass
Vintage 12.5-Inch Cobalt Blue Glass Ashtray from Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage cobalt blue ashtray is an elegant glass decorative object, realized during the 1970s. Vibrant cobalt blue ashtray will help add...
Glass
$561
H 3.35 in W 6.3 in D 4.73 in
Midcentury Multicolored "Submerged" Murano Glass Italian Ashtray, 1960
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury multicolored "submerged" Murano glass ashtray. This wonderful item was produced in Italy in 1960. This piece is amazing as it can be used both as an ashtray o...
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
$290
H 2.13 in W 5.13 in D 5.13 in
Beautiful Brutalist Murano Sommerso Glass Cigar Ashtray, Vintage, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous large heavy hand blown Murano art glass piece. A beautiful brutalist and organic ashtray, Venice, Murano, Italy, 1970s. Colors are Blue and clear glass, with controlled line...
Art Glass
Art Deco glass ashtray, 1940
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A 1940s Art Deco ashtray crafted from thick molded glass in a nuanced green hue. Its circular form is punctuated by faceted vertical panels, evoking a stylized flower or geometric ar...
Glass
Midcentury Crystal Ashtray from Kosta, 1960s
By Kosta Glasbruk 1
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Thick and heavy cigar ashtray. It is made from polished lead crystal. Signed and numbered beneath its base. The signature looks like EH so it was probably designed by Erik Hoglund.
Crystal
Retro Bohemian glass ashtray by Bohemia Crystal, Czech Republic, 1990s
By Bohemia Crystal
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Vintage Bohemian glass ashtray by Bohemia Crystal, made in the Czech Republic in the 1990s. Magnificent hand-cut lead crystal. Vintage glass ashtray is in excellent condition. The cr...
Crystal
$280
H 2.25 in W 5.63 in D 5.5 in
Beautiful Brutalist Murano Sommerso Glass Cigar Ashtray, Vintage, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous large heavy hand blown Murano art glass piece. A beautiful brutalist and organic ashtray, Venice, Murano, Italy, 1970s. Colors are Blue and clear glass, with controlled line...
Art Glass
Crystal Art Glass "Sunflower" Bowl / Ashtray by Goran Warff for Kosta Boda
By Göran Wärff, Kosta Boda
Located in San Diego, CA
Striking crystal art glass "Sunflower" bowl / ashtray by Goran Warff for Kosta Boda Sweden, circa 1980s. The bowl is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measu...
Art Glass