THE ITEM
This sleek, handblown work of iconic Scandinavian Modern design is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983). Lindstrand was a Swedish textile and ceramic designer and painter, and 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 Murano 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.
This particular piece is a rare shape of the Zebra series and very much embodies Lindstrand's expertise in the Sommerso technique. It also embodies the tenets of simplicity, minimalism and functionality influences of the Scandinavian Modern design movement.
The core of rich, gradient Wine red around the central chamber is surrounded by visual overlapping of the white ribbons of glass. Depending on the angle, you can see the space between the white ribbons and the red core, that the white ribbons are in fact a separate layer. All of this is suspended in the thick-walled, curved and clear crystal glass form that is characteristic of Scandinavian art glass. Such is Lindstrand's skill in creating this piece and in the beauty of the final piece became the cover feature for Martin Miller's book 'The complete guide to 20th Century Antiques'.
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 part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed with Lindstrand's Kosta initials of 'LH ['Lindstrand Hyttarbete'] 1115'
MEASUREMENTS
c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 4.7" / 12 cm in width (across widest point). Depth: c. 2.9" / 7.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: 2.3 kg / 2,269 g
NOTES
Vase 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) was a Swedish textile and ceramic designer and painter. He is considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. Lindstrand along 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.