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.
Set of 12 Extra Tall Water Goblets by Kosta Sweden
By Kosta Boda
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1950s, by Kosta, Sweden. These sublime extra-tall crystal water goblets set a spectacular table. Their dramatic silhouette, long elegant stem, and intricately-cut design featur...
Crystal
$487Sale Price / set|25% Off
Crystal Bowl Sweden Kosta Boda Designer Anna Ehrner, Pair
By Kosta Boda
Located in New York, NY
A pair (two) of substantial vintage Scandinavian clear crystal bowls by designer Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda, circa late-20th century, Sweden. Made in Sweden. Both are signed and numb...
Crystal
$1,260Sale Price / set|20% Off
Postmodern Set of Eighteen Solid Crystal Drinking Glasses by Kosta Boda, Sweden
By Kosta Boda
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Sweden by Kosta Boda, 1970s. These high-quality drinking glasses are made in solid cut crystal, in the style of Baccarat. Kosta Boda is one of the oldest Swedish glassware...
Glass
$840 / set
H 2.5 in Dm 3 in
Set of 12 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Rocks Glasses, Handblown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these handblown crystal rocks glasses have become a modern classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is designed for t...
Crystal
$420 / set
H 4 in Dm 2.63 in
Set of 6 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal White Wine Glasses Handblown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these handblown crystal white wine glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is designed for the extraordinary strength and ...
Crystal
$420 / set
H 5.5 in Dm 2.38 in
Set of 6 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Cocktail Glasses, Handblown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these handblown crystal cocktail glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is design...
Crystal
$420 / set
H 5.88 in Dm 1.75 in
Set of 6 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Champagne Glasses, Handblown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these handblown crystal champagne glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is desi...
Crystal
$4,760Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 7.25 in Dm 3.5 in
Ten Moser Gilt Enameled Cobalt Paneled Goblets, C 1930s
By Moser
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning set of ten Moser gilt-enameled cobalt paneled goblets. Each goblet features a unique and striking design, characterized by eight raised cobalt pa...
Crystal
Octagonal Crystal Bowl with Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An octagonal crystal bowl with an octagonal lid. A very unique design and a compliment to any cocktail table - the piece is a nice decorative item or works well as a bowl for candy a...
Crystal
Extra Large Bohemian Crystal Persian Style Decanter
Located in Vilnius, LT
Extra large Bohemian Persian style hand cut crystal decanter. Excellent vintage condition.
Crystal
$140 / set
H 5.88 in Dm 1.75 in
Set of 2 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Champagne Glasses, Hand Blown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these hand blown crystal champagne glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is des...
Crystal
$420 / set
H 4 in Dm 2.63 in
Set of 6 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Red Wine Glasses, Handblown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these handblown crystal red wine glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is designed for the extraordinary strength and cl...
Crystal
$340 / set
H 8 in Dm 3.38 in
Set of 4 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Pilsner Glasses, Handblown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these handblown crystal pilsner glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is designed for the extraordinary strength and cla...
Crystal
$390 / set
H 3.38 in Dm 1.75 in
Set of 6 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Shot Glasses, Handblown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these handblown crystal white wine glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is designed for the extraordinary strength and clarity of Swedish crystal. The simplicity of the design, the thinness of the lip, the quality of the crystal and the perfect weight of these white wine glasses create a nuanced experience, and are the trademark details of her Simple Crystal collection...
Crystal
Set of 2 Deborah Ehrlich Simple Crystal Water Glasses, Hand Blown in Sweden
By Deborah Ehrlich
Located in Accord, NY
Launched with Takashimaya in 1999, these hand blown crystal water glasses have become a modern Classic. Each Deborah Ehrlich piece is designed fo...
Crystal
Sold
H 8 in W 4 in D 4 in
Cocteau Inspired Romantic Ulrica Hyman Kosta Vintage Kosta Boda Glass Goblets
By Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, Kosta Boda
Located in North Miami, FL
These romantic and lovely Cocteau inspired wine goblets for two make a lovely union. These are from the 70's and have the original Kosta Boda sticker on the base of the front of t...