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.
Blue and Green Glass Vase by Vicki Lindstrand for Kosta Boda.
By Vicke Lindstrand
Located in Montreal, QC
blue and green glass vase by Vicki Lindstrand for Kosta Boda. Etched signature and number to underside 'Kosta 441590'. Sweden: circa 1959 Lindstrand, who had begun his career as an i...
Glass
Blue and Green Glass Vase by Vicki Lindstrand for Kosta Boda.
By Vicke Lindstrand
Located in Montreal, QC
blue and green glass vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta Boda Etched signature and number to underside of each example ‘Kosta 41592 V. Lindstrand’. Sw...
Glass
$1,771
H 5.71 in Dm 4.93 in
Blue & Green Patch Vase Signed by Wiktor Berndt for Flygsfors Glass Sweden, 1958
By Wiktor Berndt, Flygsfors
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Stunning vintage Scandinavian mid-century clear glass vase with cobalt blue and emerald green 'patches' or inclusions made by Wiktor Berndt for Flygsfors Glass, Sweden, in 1958. A really stunning piece, reminiscent of the 'A Macchie' series of works by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini glass...
Blown Glass
$1,594
H 13.78 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Mid Century Vintage Blue and Green Big Vase, 20th Century, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Vintage glass in very good condition. The vase looks like it has just been taken out of the box. No jags, defects etc. Only one unique piece. Murano glass.
Glass
Czech Sommerso Art Glass Vase in Blue and Green
By Josef Hospodka
Located in Praha, CZ
A stunning hand-blown Sommerso art glass vase from Czechoslovakia, circa 1970s. Featuring vibrant layers of deep cobalt blue and emerald green encased in clear glass, this sculptural...
Glass
Blue and Green Glass Vase by Bo Borgström for Åseda, Sweden, 1960s
By Bo Borgstrom
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A tall, fluted, chalice shaped glass vase in blue and green by Bo Borgström for Åseda Glass works, Sweden, circa 1960s. Heavy green bottom, label partiall...
Glass
Kosta Boda Mirage Vase Blue/Green XL
By Göran Wärff
Located in Wilkes Barre, PA
With Mirage, the artist and designer Göran Wärff found inspiration from nature and light, especially in the reflection of light and optical illusions. The object is a sculpture, a va...
Crystal
$520
H 6.3 in Dm 7.09 in
Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda. Organic-shaped glass vase in blue and green tones.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda Vase, 1970s. Organic-shaped glass vase in blue and green tones with a solid, sculptural body and faceted design. Origin: Sweden. Designer: Göran Wärff. Ma...
Art Glass
Venini fasce ritorte blue and green circa 1950 Murano vase.
By Venini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and large Murano glass attributed to Venini in blue and green circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
VENINI Coreani Blue & Green year 1991, handmade in Italy
By Venini, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Venezia, IT
VENINI Coreani Green & Blue year 1991, signed on the base, and accompanied by its original Venini box and paperwork. The Venini Coreani vase in Green & Blue is a striking ex...
Blown Glass, Murano 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
Large Venini Vase 'Coreano', Designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1966
By Tapio Wirkkala, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Venini Vase 'Coreano', Designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1966 A blue and green a fasce a spirale vase from the Coreani series. Designed in 1966 by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini. Produ...
Art Glass, Murano 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 large vase of the Kraka (fishnet) series designed by Sven Palmquist for Orrefors Sweden in 1954. Kraka refers to a N...
Art Glass
Large Colora Vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta, 1953
By Vicke Lindstrand, Kosta Boda
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Colora vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta 1953. Art glass vase of the Colora series, designed by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta Glassworks. This particular piece is an early work from the Colora series, which first appeared in the Kosta catalogue in 1955. Signed on the base "LC 1". The elegant, flowing and simple form is decorated with a coalescing of multiple glass layers in blue and red finished with a layer of clear casing glass. The Colora series where first presented in November 1953 at the exhibition Artiums Exposé Gothenburg. Vicke Lindstrand (1904 - 1983) is considered one of the pioneers of the Swedish glass art scene. He also showed his feel for contemporary trends as a ceramic artist and painter. He celebrated his first international successes at the World Exhibition in Stockholm 1930. Vicke Lindstrand´s design works were part of the art competitions at the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1936. He worked as a trend-setting designer for Orrefors and Kosta. In his final decade Vicke Lindstrand worked together with Hanne Dreutler...
Art Glass
Vintage Art Glass Vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta 1950s
By Vicke Lindstrand, Kosta Boda
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Art Glass Vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta 1950s A vintage art glass vase designed by Vicke Lindstrand and manufactured by Kosta Glassworks in the 1950s. Thick clear glass...
Art Glass
Large Colora Vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta 1953
By Kosta Boda, Vicke Lindstrand
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Colora Vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta 1953 A rare art glass vase from the Colora series, designed by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta Glassworks. This particular piece is an early work from the Colora series, which first appeared in the Kosta catalog in 1955. Signed “LC 2” and Lindstrand's etched signature on the base. The elegant, flowing and simple form is decorated with a fusion of several layers of glass in beige and red, finished with a layer of clear glass. The Colora series was first presented at the Artiums Expose exhibition in Gothenburg in November 1953. Measures: Height: 11.61" (29.5 cm) Diameter: 2.76" (7 cm) Vicke Lindstrand (1904 - 1983) is considered one of the pioneers of the Swedish glass art scene. He also showed his feel for contemporary trends as a ceramic artist and painter. He celebrated his first international successes at the World Exhibition in Stockholm 1930. Vicke Lindstrand´s design works were part of the art competitions at the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1936. He worked as a trend-setting designer for Orrefors and Kosta. In his final decade Vicke Lindstrand worked together with Hanne Dreutler and Arthur Zirrnsack at Studio Glashyttan in Åhus. artfour is an owner-managed trading company dealing with fancy pieces of Murano and Scandinavian art glass. Our passion for the beauty of these works of art drives us to become your preferred partner for the expansion of your collection. We have been dealing with 20th century art glass since the 1980s and have great experience. We guarantee the authenticity of all items we offer. We operate worldwide with well-packed and money back guarantee service. Literature Reference: Lars Thor, Legend i Glas En Bok Om Vicke Linstrand, Stockholm 1982, page 68 (similar design) Mark Ian Jones...
Art Glass
