Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville
This stunning, handblown work of Swedish Modern design art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983), considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. This particular piece is a rare and early work, 'LC1' from the Colora series, which first appeared in the Kosta catalogue in 1955, featured 11 designs and was produced during 1955 to 1956.
The elegant, flowing and deceptively simple form is in fact the coalescing of multiple layers. The innermost layer is a graduating Cerulean blue that pales into a glow at the lower body and which is overlaid with exquisite threads of Espresso brown. The threads gracefully shape themselves to the contours of the vase's body, from hairline thickness at the neck and dilating as it wraps around the lower body. The piece is finished with a layer of clear casing glass.
The refined delineation of the threads from the core blue creates a visual effect of the threads gently hovering over the body, adding fascinating depth and dimension to the visual effect. This successful delineation is not always possible as is the nature of handblown pieces.
In November 1953, Lindstrand presented Colora at the exhibition Artiums Exposé Gothenburg. Described by the press at the time: "Colora is thus the very latest. This glass has never before been exhibited to the public. The pieces are also unique in the sense that no two objects in this exhibition are the same. The play of light in the bowls, small or large, triggers the effect. It will shimmer, it will glow, it plays - and then you have in your hand a glass object that lives, whimsical but intense.”
CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repair. There are internal water marks, negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. There are also small inclusions in the body that are from the glassblowing process and is not damage, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed with Lindstrand's initials for the Colora series of 'LC1'.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 12.1" / 30.8 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 3.9" / 10 cm in width (across widest point). Depth: c. 2.8" / 7 cm. Base measurements: 2.6" / 6.5 cm x 2.2" / 5.6 cm. Rim: 2" / 5 cm (across widest point) Unpackaged weight: 1.0 kg / 970 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) 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.