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.
Glass Vase by Vicke Lindstrand, 1960's
By Vicke Lindstrand
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Glass Vase by Vicke Lindstrand, 1960's Additional Information: Material: Glass Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Kosta in Sweden Signed LH 1827 Kosta Dimensions (W x D x ...
Glass
Sven Palmqvist, Sommerso Vase, Glass, Sweden, 1950s
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in High Point, NC
A blue-coloured blown glass Sommerso vase designed by Sven Palmqvist and produced by Orrefors, Sweden, 1950s.
Blown Glass
$653
H 9.85 in W 3.94 in D 2.37 in
Mid-Century Czech Sommerso Art Glass Vase by Miloslav Klinger, 1970s
By Miloslav Klinger
Located in Valencia, VC
Sommerso Glass Vase by Miloslav Klinger, Czechoslovakia, circa 1970 Heavy sculptural sommerso glass vase attributed to Miloslav Klinger, executed in layered smoky grey and aquamarin...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso
Heavy Ariel Glass Vase by Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors, Sweden 1964
By Orrefors, Ingeborg Lundin
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Heavy Ariel Glass Vase by Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors, Sweden 1964 A heavy vase of the Orrefors Ariel series designed by Ingeborg Lundin, Sweden ca. 1950s. Colorless glass with a b...
Art Glass
Vintage Art Glass Vase by Martti Rytkoenen for Orrefors, Sweden
By Orrefors
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Art Glass Vase by Martti Rytkoenen for Orrefors, Sweden A vintage art glass vase designed by Martti Rytkoenen, Finnland for Orrefors ca. 1990s. Colorless glass in houre glas...
Art Glass
Glass Vase by Sven Palmqvist, 1950's
By Sven Palmquist
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Glass Vase by Sven Palmqvist, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Glass Style: Midcentury, scandinavian Produced by Orrefors in Sweden Signed ‘Orrefors 9058/40 Sven Palmqvist′ ...
Glass
$1,010
H 8.08 in W 5.52 in D 4.34 in
Mid-Century Kraka Glass Vase by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, 1960s
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in Asaa, DK
Mid-century Kraka glass vase by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, 1960s Tear shaped hand blown clear glass vase with blue and green curved net pattern with tin...
Glass
Vintage Kraka Vase by Sven Palmquist for Orrefors, Sweden 1955
By Sven Palmquist, Orrefors
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Kraka Vase by Sven Palmquist for Orrefors, Sweden 1955 A vintage vase of the Kraka (fishnet) series designed by Sven Palmquist for Orrefors Sweden in 1954. Kraka refers to a...
Art Glass
Nils Landberg, Sommerso Vase, Glass, Sweden, 1950s
By Nils Landberg, Orrefors
Located in High Point, NC
A blown glass Sommerso vase designed by Nils Landberg and produced by Orrefors, Sweden, 1950s
Glass
1982 Danish Finn Lynggard Glass Vase
By Finn Lynggaard
Located in Knebel, DK
1982 studio vase, of glass with polycrom decorations, by Danish glass-maker Finn Lynggaard (1930-2011). Lynggaard studied painting and ceramics at the Royal College of Arts in Copenhagen, graduating in 1955. He shifted first from painting to ceramics, authoring a book on Raku technique, then to glass-making in 1970, and became becoming known as the father of Danish studio glass. In 1985 he and his wife glass artist Tchai Munch...
Glass
Scandinavian Art glass "UNIK" vase, by Göran Wärff Kosta, Sweden
By Göran Wärff, Kosta Boda
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A rare vintage collectiable and crystal "Unik" vase. Swedish modernism design, made by Göran Wärff for Boda, Sweden. This is handmade by the artist using a very special technique whe...
Blown Glass
Crystal Glass Vase made and signed by Bengt Edenfalk for Skruf, Sweden, 1970s
By Bengt Edenfalk, Skruf
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A stunning handblown vintage crystal vase known as "Spun" from Skruf, Sweden signed by the talented Bengt Edenfalk. This vase is really special, he has spun clear glass around a cyl...
Crystal
Scandinavian Glass Art Vase Known as "May" by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda, 1980s
By Kjell Engman, Kosta Boda
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A rather large and very beautiful vintage art glass vase, known as "May" handmade and signed by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda, Sweden, in perfect condition. This vase is simple in shap...
Art Glass
Mid-Century Scandinavian Modern Art Glass Vase by Wiktor Berndt for Flygsfors
By Wiktor Berndt, Flygsfors
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Scandinavian art glass vase in the shape of a Peacock made and signed by Wiktor Berndt for Flygsfors, Sweden. This an amazing hand-made piece of art, it is sculptural with clean line...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Miniature Kraka vase by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors Sweden
By Orrefors, Nils Landberg
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
An exceptionally rare miniature version of the iconic “Kraka” vase, designed by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, Sweden, in 1954. The Kraka series is regarded as one of the most importan...
Glass, Sommerso
Blue Glass Art Vase from 'Prachen' Glass Works
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Stunning, iridescent blue glass 'Flora' vase with red details. Made by Frantisek Koudelka for Prachen, Czech Republic, 1970s. This is a rare piece. From the Mid-Century but has a Bo...
Art Glass
