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.
$460Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.5 in Dm 4 in
Sommerso Art Glass Perfume Bottle with Stopper by Steven Correia
By Steven Correia
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning sommerso art glass perfume bottle with stopper by Steven Correia, circa 1994. This piece is absolutely gorgeous with an inner orb ...
Art Glass
French Mid-Century Ciro Glass Perfume Bottle
Located in Queens, NY
2 French Mid Century 1940s concave trapezoid-shaped glass perfume bottle with an geometric stylized eagle-shaped stopper (for CIRO "New Horizons") (PRICED EACH)
Glass
$3,509
H 18.51 in W 10.63 in D 3.75 in
Murano Glass Perfume Bottle by Michele Onesto, Sommerso Technique
By Michele Onesto
Located in Catania, IT
Murano blown glass bottle, handmade with Sommerso work, with layers of ruby and crystal colour signed with engraving: "Michele Onesto Murano" The conditions are perfect. The glass is...
Murano Glass
$491
H 7.09 in W 3.15 in D 3.15 in
Original crystal perfume bottle by Italo Varisco for Varisco, Italy, 1960s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Original crystal perfume bottle by Italo Varisco for Varisco made in Treviso, Italy in the 1960s. Three generations of Variscos have been represented in some of the most prestigious ...
Crystal
Pure Crystal Cefalù Vase by Studio Bojola
Located in Geneve, CH
Pure Crystal Cefalù Vase by Studio Bojola Dimensions: D 21 x H 26 cm Materials: Pure crystal. Colour: Amber. Weight: 3 kg. The Cefalù is a combination of two vases, that can servi...
Crystal
Vintage Swedish Crystal Decanter from Strömbergshyttan, 1950s
By Strombergshyttan
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Heavy Strömbergshyttan crystal decanter. Crafted of thick Strömbergshyttan crystal with it's characteristic light blue hue. The very one-dimensional looking stopper suggest that Elis...
Crystal
Vicke Lindstrand, Glass Vase, Kosta Boda, Sweden
By Vicke Lindstrand
Located in Stockholm, SE
Glass vase by Vicke Lindstrand. Made by Kosta Boda, in the 1960's. Clear orange coloured glass in a calebasse shape. Marked with name and maker. Hight 26 cm. Circumference 12 cm. Goo...
Glass, Blown Glass
Fine Handcut Crystal Grand Lauderlale Perfume Flacon
By Reflections Copenhagen
Located in Geneve, CH
Fine handcut crystal grand Lauderlale perfume flacon. Materials: Fine handcut crystal Dimensions: D 11 x W 11 x H 32.5 cm Weight: 3.16 kg. Reflections Copenhagen, a collection of handmade decorative mirrors and Crystal pieces, finely balanced to Challenge the traditional styles and shapes of todays’ homes by adding new dimensions and possibilities to interior decorating. Julie Hugau and Andrea Larsson, inspired by the graphic expression of Art Deco, the vast contrasts of the 1980s and the opportunity to explore the delicate materials that the mirrors are made of, combined their visions and the start of Reflections was a fact. The collection sums up their perspectives of how to provide new expressions through strength and form, the mirrors are designed with a strong visual structure to create a contrast of light and reflections through non-traditional mirror images. A concept built on Julie’s flair for design and production, Andrea’s eye for interior and colors together with their shared vision of creating a product that unites art and decor. Remember, everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you made. If you want a different result, make a different choice Welcome to the world of Reflections. The beauty of craftsmanship All Reflections...
Crystal
Mid Century Amberina Art Glass Bottle att. to Joel Myers for Blenko c. 1960's
By Joel Myers, Blenko Glass
Located in New York, NY
Diminutive Art Glass stoppered glass bottle, attributed to Joel Myers for Blenko Glass, circa 1960/70's. The Amberina bottle features an orange to yellow glass body, with transparen...
Art Glass
Murano Sommerso Art Glass Bottle by, Seguso Vetri d'Arte, circa 1970s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Englewood, NJ
An Italian Murano Mid-Century Modern Sommerso bottle by, Seguso Vetri d'Arte blown in the Sommerso technique with pink, red coloration cased in clear blown glass bottle with matching...
Art Glass
Mona Morales crystal hand cut decorative art vase and art object, Kosta, Sweden
By Kosta Boda, Mona Morales-Schildt
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A gorgeous cut and rather large crystal decorative art glass vase and art miniature sculpture or paper weight made and signed by Mona Morales Schildt from the 1960s. She is regarded ...
Blown Glass
Bonbonniere or candy box handblown Art glass by Bertil Vallien, Kosta Sweden.
By Bertil Vallien, Kosta Boda
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A rare and sculptural lidded glass vessel, known in Swedish as a Godisgömma ("candy hideaway"), designed by Bertil Vallien for Boda Glasbruk in 1966. This striking example belongs t...
Blown Glass, Cork
Diamond-Shaped Crystal Vase, art glass from Strömbergshyttan, Sweden
By Strombergshyttan, Asta Stromberg
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A beautifully signed vintage art glass vase designed by Asta Strömberg for the renowned glassworks Strömbergshyttan, Sweden. Sculpted in a striking diamond form, this vase exemplifie...
Crystal
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
Crystal Glass Vase made and signed by Bengt Edenfalk for Skruf, Sweden, 1970s
By Skruf, Bengt Edenfalk
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
Finnish art glass design “Flora" flask or vase by Oiva Toikka for Nuutajärvi.
By Oiva Toikka, Nuutajärvi Notsjõ
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Rare Vintage “Flora” Azur Blue Glass Vase by Oiva Toikka for Nuutajärvi, Finland A striking and uncommon vintage glass vase designed by the celebrated Finnish artist Oiva Toikka for...
Glass
