Kjell Engman 1989 'Bon Bon' series, Kosta Boda, Sapphire and Coquelicot Decanter, Sweden, Signed

This delicious handblown work of Postmodern art glass is by leading Swedish glass artist Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -) for Kosta Boda. From his popular series named Bon Bon that was designed by Engman in 1989, the series remained in production until 2005. 

Accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his seemingly unlimited imagination with art glass, it's easy to see why Engman named this series Bon Bon. With candy-coloured pieces ranging from pairing Candied Mint with Coquelicot orange to Sky Blue paired with Jewel yellow shaped into forms as joyful as the vibrant colour palette. 

The central part of this particular piece is spheroid-shaped, beautifully curved, and toned in Candied Lemon. Embedded into the spheroid are the stripes of Amethyst and Lilac purple forming the neck, the merging of the two colours finishing in a lightly sanded texture. This work is further accented with a handle in Candied coral and finished with a clear base.

Vivid and vibrant, this excellent work is an addition of delight to its surrounding space.

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, Artist's Coll[ection], K Engman, 89065'

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 10.5" / 26.7 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 5.3" / 13.5 cm in width (across widest point). Depth: c. 2.2" / 5.7 cm. Rim: c. 1.9" / 4.7 cm. Base: c. 3.3" / 8.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.9 kg / 860 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 -), was accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his seemingly 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 stunning work of handblown work of Murano art glass design is by Vincenzo Nason's art glass studio V. Nason & Co. This piece brings with it beauty created by the exquisite execution of the Sfumato art glass technique.

Sfumato in art glass is curiously named as in the world of painting, Sfumato translates as 'soft, vague and blurred', blending the edges between colours so that there is a soft transition.

In art glass, and particularly in this piece, the edges are anything but vague. The core colour of this sculpture is a rich, deep Jet black and overlaid onto the core is a series of gradually rounding and overlapping White scales. Where each white scale is teased across the black, it is semi-translucent and creates the Grey tone. Each scale ends in a White tip and edged in a flourishing of minute bubbles. The end result is a spectacular presentation of the Sfumato technique that is finished with a clear glass Sommerso casing and the careful shaping of the fish body.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is very light use wear on the underside of the sculpture that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The sculpture is labelled with V.Nason's factory label.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 4.7" / 12 cm (base to tail) x c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm length (across widest point) x depth: c. 1.7" / 4.3 cm. Base: c. 1.3" / 3.2 cm x c. 2" / 5cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.5 kg / 450 g.

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
V Nason & co was first established bu Vincenzo Nason as "Vincenzo Nason & Cie" (VNC) on the island of Murano, Venice, Italy in 1967. Nason previously worked at Venini for a number of years, mastering his skills in Murano art glass. The name was changed to V. Nason & Co towards the late 80s. The company is believed to have closed sometime around 2001.

V Nason & Co are known for their 'Avventurina' range, black glass filled with copper Aventurine inclusions as well as their creations of sculptures of animals and opaline glass.

THE ITEM

This excellent work of Modernist design is by Antje Brüggemann for Rosenthal's 'Studio Line' division of design-orientated creations.  

Brüggemann is a leading German ceramic artist and designed this piece as part of her 'Linear' series in the early 1980s during her collaboration with Rosenthal.

The 80s design influence of distorted geometry is evident in the shape of this piece and also in the dusty-teal blue elements, which are outlined in green.

This stylish piece would suit a room with Minimalist, Modernist or Retro decor themes. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

Rosenthal (1879 - present)
The company founder, Philipp Rosenthal, moved his porcelain painting skills from Werl (North Rhine-Westphalia) to Selb in Bavaria, which he industrialised in the castle Erkersreuth with his painting workshop. The company grew from strength to strength over the years, with original pieces designed by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Walter Gropius. By 1997, Rosenthal was the market leader for high-quality porcelain and glassware in Germany and was the world market leader in conjunction with Waterford Wedgwood. Rosenthal launched 'Rosenthal Studio Line' to specialise in design-orientated art objects and goods. 

CONDITION
Very Good - no chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild use wear on the interior of the vase and two minor scratches (c. 2 - 4 mm) on one side that is commensurate with the age of the piece - please refer to photos as part of the condition of the report, The base of the vase bears the Rosenthal Studio Line insignia stamp. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 7" /  18 cm tall (from base to rim) x 4.5" / 11.5 cm width. Depth: c. 1.7" / 4.2 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.7 kg / 661 g

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

DESCRIPTION

This stunning work of sculpted art glass is by Jane Charles, one of the leading British contemporary glass artists. 

Multiple techniques have been utilised in the creation of this piece. Techniques include Sandblasting to create the smoothly frosted exterior and the cutting of the sides to create the faceted effect, as well as creating a 'window' into the layers of captured flowing motion within the piece. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

Jane Charles (b. 1961 - ) 

Charles was born in Edinburgh, UK and is a leading contemporary glassmaker in the UK. "Her inspiration comes from working with molten glass together with the shapes, colours and moods of the natural world. She has been producing a wide range of exquisite sculptural pieces, perfume bottles, paperweights, bowls and vases since setting up her first studio in Scotland in 1987." - source: Bircham Gallery, UK. 

Charles has exhibited widely, such as at the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh, UK, Museum of Modern Art in Brazil, Geneva Arts Centre in Switzerland,  Kunst Museum in Germany, Bonhams and Liberty's in London, UK. 

Her work can be found in public and private collections throughout the world, and she is a member of the Crafts Council list of selected makers.

CONDITION

Excellent. No chips, cracks, repairs - please see photos as part of the condition report. The underside of the vase base is signed with Charle's 'Jane Charles' signature. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 5.9 " / 15 cm tall x c. 2.8" / 7 cm width (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 1.2" / 3 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1 kg / 963 g

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

THE ITEM
This exceptional Modernist work of sculpted art glass is by glass artist and designer Jaroslav Svoboda (b. 1938 - ) from his own glassworks studio Svoboda Karlov. Svoboda is well known from his works at the renowned Skrdlovice glassworks designing many popular and much-loved pieces in clear and cobalt blue glass. 

This sculpted piece is crafted from clear glass throughout with the exception of the cobalt blue horn accents. 

The form distinctly avoids harsh angles and lines and instead, opts for softly exaggerated curves all over, creating multiple effects within the glass and how it interacts with light; from magnifying to refracting to prismatic. Depending on the angle of display and light, the undulating curves internally reflects the cobalt blue of the horns, casting an icy blue tint over different parts of the glass body. 

CONDITION

Excellent. No chips or cracks, there is mild use wear that is present and is commensurable with the age of the piece, please refer to photos as part of the condition report. The piece bears an original partial Svoboda Karlov label, identifiable by the glassworks logo. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height c. 6.3" / 16 cm by c. 8.3" /  21 cm  in length. Depth / Width of body (across widest point): c. 4.3" / 11 cm. 
Weight c.  2.2 kg / 2,170 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY

Jaroslav Svoboda (b. 1938 - )  Svoboda entered the world of glassmaking from a young age and in his father's workshop, his father worked for the Inwald glassworks. Svoboda would pursue academic knowledge of the arts at the age of 15 before officially beginning his career in glass in 1966. 

In the years to follow, Svoboda would go on to become the Head of the ÚUŘ Glassworks in Skrdlovice and becoming Professor and Head of Glass Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague before finally establishing his own glassworks studio. 

Svoboda has had significant achievements throughout his career; he has won numerous awards and his works are featured in collections in many museums including the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, the Kunstmuseum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, the National Gallery in Prague and many more. 

His work has been presented in over 60 exhibitions, either as a dedicated individual exhibition or part of a collective. There are also around 30 Svoboda commissioned pieces in state, financial, school and industrial buildings in his native Czech Republic and abroad.