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 Royal Blue Crystal Candle Holder by Anna Ehrner, 1990's
By Anna Ehrner
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Kosta Boda royal cobalt blue "Atoll" votive Tealight candle holder designed by Anna Ehrner, 1990s. With characteristic craftsmanship and good design, and an ongoing commitme...
Blown Glass
Vintage Bohemian Crystal Votive Candle Holder in Cobalt Blue
By Modern Fabergé
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Bohemian Crystal Votive Candle Holder in Cobalt Blue. Vintage Bohemian Cobalt Blue and Ruby Red Cut to Clear Crystal Votive Candle Hol...
Crystal
Vintage Murano Sommerso Orb Blue Art Glass Ashtray
By Andromeda Murano
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Gorgeous vintage Murano Venetian handblown art glass bowl or ashtray. Italian Murano Sommerso Cenedese orb blue art glass ashtray. Heavyweight glass ashtray in a gorgeous minimal design. A very beautiful and substantial two-tone blue Italian Murano art glass cigarette ashtray...
Blown Glass
Single "Cailloux" Paperweight by Roberto Sambonet for Baccarat, 1977
By Baccarat
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Single "Cailloux" Paperweight by Roberto Sambonet for Baccarat, 1977. Rare paperweight from the "Cailloux" or "Pebbles" series designed by Roberto Sambonet for Baccarat in 1975-77. Polished on all sides, its design was meant to recall a sea stone smoothed down by the crashing of the waves. Sambonet also designed the "Cailloux" to highlight the exceptional qualities of Baccarat crystal; feeling weighty and perfectly smooth in the hand, and resembling a crystal clear cube of ice. This 6x6x6cm design was the foundation of the series. References: "Design: Roberto Sambonet" Federico Motta Editore, 1993 "Roberto Sambonet, design, grafico, artista (1924-1995)" exhibition catalog, 2008 "BACCARAT nouvelles formes d'art design par Roberto Sambonet" brochure, 1977 BACCARAT Clear Crystal Cube Paperweight. From the French luxury crystal Maison Baccarat, a beautiful clear transparent cube paperweight or decorative object. Acid stamped marked "Baccarat France", cube shaped crystal paperweight with rounded edges. Dimensions: 2 inches tall and 2 inches wide. Condition: Minor surface wearing. Collectible Baccarat Crystal Paperweight...
Crystal
Murano Sommerso Orb Blue Art Glass Vintage Ashtray Italy
By Andromeda Murano
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Gorgeous vintage Murano Venetian handblown art glass bowl or ashtray. Italian Murano Sommerso orb blue and clear art glass ashtray Extremely hard to fi...
Blown Glass
Vintage Bohemian Cobalt Blue Cut to Clear Crystal Votive Candle Holder
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Bohemian cobalt blue cut to clear crystal votive candle holder Crystal glass in excellent condition. Great to use with votiv...
Crystal
Faceted Blue Murano Midcentury Modern 1960s Sommerso Diamond Cut Glass Bowl
By Seguso, Alessandro Mandruzzato, Flavio Poli
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern Faceted vintage Italian Murano art glass bowl, dish or ashtray circa 1960s. The combination of blue and clear glass tinted, ever so slightly, with a ligh...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Querandi Art Glass Paperweight in Cobalt Blue
By Querandi Art Glass
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Querandi Art Glass Paperweight in Cobalt Blue This Querandi art glass paperweight features an ovoid shape. Its design is characterized by a pattern of concentric bands in shades of c...
Art Glass
Vintage Swedish Glass Bowl by Kosta Boda, Blue, 6.69" Diameter, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Swedish Glass Bowl from Kosta Boda, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional i...
Glass
Large Oval Cenedese Italian Blue Clear Sommerso Murano Glass Bowl Dish 1970s
By Cenedese, Antonio da Ros
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Antonio da Ros for Cenedese large and heavy vintage Italian Murano oval shaped glass bowl, serving dish or ashtray, circa 1965-1975. Utilizing the Sommerso technique this large, heav...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Blue crystal pocket emptier made by Fontana Arte, 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Icon light blue crystal pocket emptier or center piece made by Fontana Arte. Italy, 1960s.
Crystal
Vision Blue by Kosta Boda — A Masterpiece of Scandinavian Crystal Art
By Kosta Boda
Located in Oirlo, LI
Bring refined Scandinavian artistry into your interior with the stunning Vision bowl by Kosta Boda. Designed by the renowned glass artist Göran Wärff, this exclusive crystal bowl emb...
Glass
