Kosta Boda

This striking handblown work of Swedish art glass design is by Bertil Vallien (b. 1938 - ), celebrated glass artist, sculptor, ceramist, and designer. Vallien's career in glass began at Boda Glassworks in 1963, upon his return to Sweden from his studies in art and ceramics, both in Sweden and the US. Vallien's experimentation with sand-casting glass techniques would eventually bring him fame and this fascination is evident even in this exploratory piece.

The exterior surface of this piece is undulating, uneven, and with a base colour of pearlescent green. The next layer is a dappling in rich Inky Indigo which encircles the bowl interspersed with what appears to be a Powdered Peach tone. The iridescence is underpinned with lava-rock-like texture and the whole piece is finished with a dusted Peridot-toned 'pebble'. The interior of the bowl is a smooth, semi-matte and frosted layer of glass overlaid in iridescence.

The overall effect is quite spectacular, giving the air of a delicate bowl carved from an extraterrestrial iridescent geode of quartz crystal and lava. 

This particular piece is numbered and marked as 'Unik', indicating that it is a unique piece and when combined with the design, craftsmanship and condition, makes this piece a rare find. 

CONDITION
Excellent, no chips, cracks or repairs. Age-commensurate wear, most prominently on the underside of the bowl, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The bowl is inscribed with 'BODA UNIK 3645 B.VALLIEN. The exterior also bears the silver label 'Handmade Boda Sweden'.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 3.2" /  8.2 cm x c. 4.1" / 10.4 cm diameter (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 2" / 5cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.3 kg / 275 g.

NOTES
Bowl will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Born in 1938, Bertil Vallien was only 15 when he left home, drawn by the allure of the big city. After a series of occasional jobs, as a window-dresser at one of the main department stores in Stockholm, and as an apprentice in his father's decorating firm, Vallien would eventually decide to become an artist which would lead him into the world of ceramics. The guidance he received in his early career included that of Stig Lindberg - one of Sweden's foremost designers of ceramic art and one of the leading designers for Rörstrand in the 1970s.

Today, Vallien is one of the most well-known representatives of 20th-century Swedish ceramic and art glass design and is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design as well as abroad at the Everson Museum of Art of New York.

Vallien's works have only become more collectable over the years with sculptures from his Head and Journey (Boat) series fetching up to $20,000 USD.

This sleek work of Scandinavian Modern art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983). Lindstrand is considered one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a glass art pioneer. His prolific career held many design highlights, including his ability to excel at a technique called Sommerso in which a vividly coloured or patterned section of glass is surrounded by and seemingly floats within a clear crystal body.

This particular piece comes from the Colora series, named after the technique pioneered by Lindstrand. The technique applied to this piece involved carefully layering the Cobalt, Lapis coloured glass, reheating and manipulating the layered glass to form the final shape before encasing it in the clear, crystal casing and magnifying the underlying pattern. The piece is finished with a bevelled around the rim and base, giving the effect of a polished gem.

The design of this work embodies the tenets of simplicity, minimalism and functionality influences of the Scandinavian Modern design movement. 

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that are commensurable with the age of the piece - please see photos as part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed with the inscription 'Kosta' and the model number: '06085'

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 6.6" / 16.7 cm (from base to rim) x c. 3.4" / 8.6 cm in diameter (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3.4" / 8.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.5 kg / 1,500 g

A BIT OF HISTORY
This sleek work of Scandinavian Modern art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983). Lindstrand is considered one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a glass art pioneer. Lindstrand, together with his peer Edvin Öhström, pioneered a new glass-colouring process called the Ariel technique.

Lindstrand's prolific career began in commercial illustration before finding employment at the glass manufactory Orrefors. He would join Kosta Boda 1950, remaining there until 1973. Beyond his commercial work, he also produced several massive public sculptures around the world. Today, his works are in many museum collections, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Kosta Boda, Sweden’s oldest glass company, was founded in 1742 and would only begin making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Kosta Boda enjoys a reputation as the country’s most artistic and experimental glassworks, featuring artists and sculptors.
Two post-war Kosta Boda designers stand foremost in the minds of collectors, one is Vicke Lindstrand, who excelled at a technique of 'Sommerso', or cased glass. 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.

This striking work of Swedish art glass design is by Bertil Vallien (b. 1938 - ), a celebrated glass artist, sculptor, ceramist, and designer. This piece is attributed as a variation of the Columbus series which Vallien created for Kosta Boda and is 1 of 100 pieces. 

Suspended inside the sculpture are symbols through which Vallien communicates, icons, and mythological expression. This boat tells the journey from yesterday to tomorrow. The ship forms an encapsulated timeline where the stern is the past, and the bow is what is to come. The center of the boat bears the passenger, ladder, and a celestial body. The bow is clear, as the future is unwritten and hopeful. The piece is finished with solid clear interior created by the pouring of molten glass and silver plating on the exterior.

Vallien's sand casting technique has brought him worldwide acclaim. Using wooden models, he creates a hollow in the sand which is then filled with various powdered oxides giving finishings from textures to frosted patterns of colour. The 'story' is created by Vallien with the placement of the symbols and icons before molten glass is poured into the sand moulds.  

CONDITION
Excellent, no chips, cracks or repairs. Age-commensurate wear, most prominently on the exterior silver plating, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The sculpture is inscribed with '7520114 Kosta Boda, Lim. ['Limited Edition'] B Vallien ' and labelled on the exterior with the 'KOSTA BODA, Sweden 1742' label.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 2.3" / 5.8 cm x c. 9.8" / 25 cm in length x c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm width.  Unpackaged weight: c. 1.2 kg / 1,205 g

NOTES
Sculpture will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Born in 1938, Bertil Vallien was only 15 when he left home, drawn by the allure of the big city. After a series of occasional jobs, as a window-dresser at one of the main department stores in Stockholm, and as an apprentice in his father's decorating firm, Vallien would eventually decide to become an artist which would lead him into the world of ceramics. The guidance he received in his early career included that of Stig Lindberg - one of Sweden's foremost designers of ceramic art and one of the leading designers for Rörstrand in the 1970s.

Today, Vallien is one of the most well-known representatives of 20th-century Swedish ceramic and art glass design and is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design as well as abroad at the Everson Museum of Art of New York.

Vallien's works have only become more collectable over the years with sculptures from his Head and Journey (Boat) series fetching up to $20,000 USD.

This delicious handblown work of Post Modern art glass is by leading Swedish glass artist Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -), accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his unlimited imagination with art glass.

This piece is from the popular series named Bon Bon, designed by Engman in 1989. It's easy to see why this series was named Bon Bon, with the candy-coloured pieces ranging from pairing Lavender lilac with Lemon yellow to Marmalade orange with Sky blue.

The central part of this particular piece is spheroid shaped, beautifully curved, and toned in a Candied Sapphire blue. Fused into the spheroid is the pitcher stem in striped tones of Coquelicot and Coral orange, the mergng between the two colours is finished with light sand texture. This work is further accented with an organically shaped Lemon yellow handle and finished with a disc of clear glass for the base.

The overall composition of this work is of great harmony, demonstrated in the stunning blending of colour with form and size, makes this a statement piece.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece - please see photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed, denoting 'Kosta Boda, K Engman, 89066'

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 14" / 36 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 8.1" / 20.5 cm in width (across widest point). Depth: c. 3.7" / 9.5 cm. Rim: c. 2.3" / 5.8 cm. Base: c. 3.9" / 10 cm. Unpackaged weight: 1.9 kg / 1,880 g

NOTES
Pitcher vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -), accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his unlimited imagination with art glass and known for being one of ten highly talented artists. Since joining Kosta Boda in 1978, Engman has designed a number of iconic series, drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as the animal kingdom, the world of music and entertainment.

Engman's style is distinctive and immediately recognisable. Common characteristics to his work include being bold, bright and colourful, ranging from the playful to the delicate to the sensuous. It could almost be described as Dali-esque and does not conform to preconceptions of simple, minimalist Swedish design.

Engman has often been commissioned at home in Sweden and abroad, designing works for public display and even famous pieces such as the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest trophy. Engman's latest works and installations can be found at his dedicated website: http://www.kjellengman.com/

This majestic and highly skilled work of Swedish design is a sculpted Op Art art glass vase that has been created in the style of Hanne Dreutler (b. 1942 - d. 2009), glass artist and silversmith for Kosta Boda glassworks. Dreutler's career included an important contribution to the art glass field in the excelling at a technique called Graal glass. There are a number of glass artists from Kosta Boda who have been fond of the Double-Threading technique that is featured on this vase, such as Bertil Vallien, Ulrica Hyd-Vallien and Kjell Engman. However, this style of this piece has close similarities to Dreutler's works, e.g. https://anyesattic.com/products/studio-ahus-sweden-by-hanne-dreutler-optical-art-sculpted-art-glass-bowl-signed-and-dated

This particular piece bears vivid threads of Vermilion red edged in with varying tones of Cornflower blue that are woven and looped together into the cross-hatch pattern and blown into the final teardrop form. The visual overlapping of the lines creates the Op Art illusion and crosshatch effect. This net-like effect is suspended in a curved and clear glass form.

This refined piece is stylistically timeless and yet also prominently of the Swedish Modernist art glass design. The combination of the form, striking size with the colour palette and its condition makes it a rare find.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is negligible surface wear that is most prominent on the underside of the base. Please refer to photos as they form part of the description. The vase is labelled with Kosta Boda's 'Kosta Boda, Sweden 1742'.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 18.1" / 46 cm tall (from base to rim). Rim c. 2.1" / 5.3 cm. Width: c. 7.9" / 20 cm (across widest point). Depth: c. 3.9" / 10 cm (across deepest point). Base: c. 3" / 7.5 cm x c. 2.3" / 5.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: 5.8 kg / 5,790 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Hanne Dreutler (b. 1942 - d. 2009) / Studio Ahus
Hanne ( Hannelore ) Margarete Dreutler was a recognised German-Swedish glass artist and silversmith.
Dreutler trained as an industrial designer and silversmith began her career as an independent silversmith in Stockholm. She would go on to work for the Målerås and Flygsfors glassworks from 1968.

Dreutler moved to Kosta glassworks in 1971 where she would meet Arthur Zirnsack, and both would worked under Vicke Lindstrand. Dreutler and Zirnsack married and the couple started their own glassworks, Studio Åhus in 1977, one year after Kosta became Kosta Boda. Studio Åhus specialised in the famous traditions of Scandinavian glass art and Lindstrand worked at Ahus after he retired from Kosta Boda.

Dreutler's career included an important contribution to the art glass field and that was in the excelling at a technique called Graal glass. Graal glass is the cutting and engraving to reveal different colours of a blown glass bubble that consists of one or more layers of coloured glass overlaid on clear glass. The bubble is reheated and re-blown to the final shape of the object. The invention of this difficult technique was considered the 'holy grail' of glassblowing - hence the name ('graal' is Swedish for grail).

Dreutler's achievements include representation at the Stockholm National Museum, the granting of Studio Ahus' appointment to the King of Sweden in 1993 and in 1999, the awarding of the Kristianstad Municipality's cultural prize.

This stunning, handblown work of Swedish Modernist design art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983), who was considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. This particular piece comes from a series of 5 objects designed by Lindstrand between 1955-1956 for Kosta (Boda) glassworks. Similar to Wirkkala's Kantarelli (Chantarelle) series that was released around the same time, Lindstrand's series focuses on the gentle exaggeration and stylisation of organic curves and stripes. But whilst Wirkkala chose to create physically grooved stripes on his works, Lindstrand chose to embed feathering threads of Deep Espresso into the body of his series. 

These beautiful threads are in fact individual and separate but the prismatic quality that is typically found in Swedish crystal magnifies the bands to create a rolling effect in the stem. This magnificent piece stays true to the roots of Modernist design through the beautiful simplicity of form that speaks to an honest expression of the natural material.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed with Lindstrand's initials and model number "LH1210" and further impressed with Lindstrand's acid edged stamp. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 7.2" / 18.3 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm in width (across widest point). Base measurements: 2.4" / 6.1 cm. Unpackaged weight: 1.2 kg / 1,185 g

NOTES
Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983) is considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. Lindstrand's prolific career included many design highlights, including his ability to excel at a technique called Cased Glass (known to many glass collectors as 'Sommerso'), in which a vividly coloured or patterned section of glass is surrounded by and seems to float within a clear crystal body.

Lindstrand's career began in commercial illustration before finding employment at the glass manufactory Orrefors. He would join Kosta Boda in 1950, remaining there until 1973. Beyond his commercial work, he also produced several massive public sculptures around the world. Today, his works are in many museum collections, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Kosta Boda is Sweden’s oldest glass company, founded in 1742 and began making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Kosta Boda enjoys a reputation as the country’s most artistic and experimental glassworks, featuring artists and sculptors.

There are few Kosta Boda designers who stand foremost in the minds of collectors, one is Vicke Lindstrand, who excelled at a technique of 'Sommerso', or cased glass.

This elegantly ethereal duo of handblown Swedish art glass miniatures is by Bertil Vallien, (b. 1938 - ), internationally celebrated Swedish glass artist, sculptor, ceramist, and designer for Kosta Boda, one of Sweden's leading glassworks.

Those familiar with the process of hand-blowing or hot working glass will know that glass needs to reach 1,320 °C (2,400 °F) to melt and even the working temperature is 1,090 °C (2,000 °F). This knowledge helps to appreciate the care, effort, and skill required to create these miniature works of art glass.

The blue pipe vase bearing the signature winding stripes is from Vallien's Rainbow series, designed in the 1980s. However, it is created in the uncommon and translucent Pale Powdered blue with traces of a golden-sand toned frit glass interwoven into the body.

The lidded pot is even more unusual and has not been attributable to a series, though it is a Vallien signed piece with its original label intact. The body and lid are also in an airy, Pale Powdered blue tone, very similar to the tone used in Vallien's Starlight series. The piece is finished with a clear curl finial on the lid.

Both pieces carry labels that display the parent company of Kosta Boda AB, this name came into use in 1976 before changing to Orrefors Kosta Boda AB in 1989.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs, please see photos as they form part of the condition report.
- Blue Rainbow Vase - the piece is inscribed with "BODA, ARTIST COL, B VALLIEN, 48282"
- Starlight Blue Lidded pot - the piece is inscribed with "Kosta Boda, B Vallien"

MEASUREMENTS
- Blue Rainbow Vase: Height: c. 2.5" / 6.3 cm x c. 1.8" / 4.6 cm rim diameter. Base diameter: c. 1.3" / 3.2 cm.
- Starlight Blue Lidded pot: Height: c. 4.1" / 10.5 cm (including lid). Diameter: c. 2.3" / 5.9 cm.
Unpackaged weight [all pieces]: c. 0.2 kg / 225 g

NOTES
Duo will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Born 1938, Bertil Vallien was only 15 when he left home, drawn by the allure of the big city. After a series of occasional jobs, as a window-dresser at one of the main department stores in Stockholm, and as an apprentice in his father's decorating firm, Vallien would eventually decide to become an artist which would lead him into the world of ceramics. The guidance he received in his early career included that of Stig Lindberg - one of Sweden's foremost designers of ceramic art and one of the leading designers for Rörstrand in the 1970's.

Today, Vallien is one of the most well-known representatives of 20th century Swedish ceramic and art glass design and is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design as well as abroad in the Everson Museum of Art of New York. Vallien's works have only become more collectable over the years with sculptures from his Head and Journey (Boat) series fetching up to $20,000 USD.

This elegant trio of handblown Swedish art glass miniatures is by three of Kosta Boda's famously celebrated glass artists: Bertil Vallien, Ulrica Hyd-Vallien and Monika (Monica) Backstrom.

In this trio:
- The charming white frit glass and hand-painted bowl is by Ulrica Hyd-Vallien from her 1979 series 'Butterfly'.
- The white frit glass, abstract flask-form vase, with delicate and tactile netted surface pattern is by Bertil Vallien from his 1978 series 'Network'.
- The elegant abstract bottle vase in tactile grey scavo and smooth, clear crystal casing is by Monika Backstrom attributed to her 1989 series Sunny. This piece is trimmed in Cerulean blue as opposed to the usual Scarlet red.

Both the Butterfly bowl and Network vase is from The Artist Collection, a concept was introduced by Vallien to give glass artists the freedom for personal, creative expression and to remove the 'mass produced' feeling. The final piece is from Kosta Boda Atelier collections. Whether pieces were created as part of The Artist Collection or Atelier, they are limited edition studio works and individual to the artist that created them. As each piece is handblown, this also makes the final décor of each piece unique.

Those familiar with the process of hand-blowing or hot working glass will know that glass needs to reach 1,320 °C (2,400 °F) to melt and even the working temperature is 1,090 °C (2,000 °F). This knowledge alone is enough to appreciate the care, effort and skill required to create these miniature works of art glass.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs, please see photos as they form part of the condition report.
- Network White Flask - piece is inscribed with "BODA, ARTIST COL, B VALLIEN, 48012"
- Sunny Grey Bottle - piece is bears label with "KOSTA BODA SWEDEN, ATELIER BY MONIKA BACKSTROM"
- Butterfly White Bowl - piece is signed with "Ulrica H.V" and further inscribed with "Boda, Artist Col. 58236"

MEASUREMENTS
- Network White Flask: Height: c. 3.8" / 9.7 cm x c. 0.8" / 2 cm rim diameter. Base measurements: c. 2" / 5 cm x c. 1" / 2.5 cm.
- Sunny Grey Bottle : Height: c. 3.3" / 8.3 cm x c. 0.7" / 1.7 cm rim diameter. Diameter: c. 1.6" / 4 cm. Base diameter: c. 0.8" / 2 cm.
- Butterfly White Bowl: Height: c. " / 4.7 cm x c. " / cm rim diameter. Diameter: c. 2.4" / 6.2 cm. Base diameter: c. 1" / 2.6 cm.

Unpackaged weight [all pieces]: c. 0.2 kg / 230 g

NOTES
Trio will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Kosta Boda, Sweden’s oldest glass company, was founded as 'Kosta' in 1742 and began making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Kosta has a strong history for many well-known glass artists such as Ewald Dahlskog, Vicke Lindstrand, Erik Höglund, Bertil Vallien and many many more.

Kosta Boda was formed in 1976 when the merger of Kosta, Boda and Åfors glass communities took place. Kosta Boda enjoys a reputation as Sweden's most artistic and experimental glassworks, featuring artists and sculptors.