Erik Hoglund Bottle

Swedish glass master Erik Höglund reveled in unconventional techniques and practices — the Karlskrona native once drove glassblower Ruben Hjelm out of a studio at Boda after mixing potatoes into a crucible of molten glass to determine if he could generate bubbles in the finished object. Höglund always walked his own path, and his individuality and creative spirit defines the range of decorative objects, lighting fixtures and other works in glass that he created over the years.

Höglund was born in 1932 and studied drawing and sculpting at the Swedish School of Arts. Despite his limited experience with glass, Höglund joined Boda Glassworks when the manufacturer reached out to the school for the services of a young glass artist. He taught himself how to blow glass at night and found inspiration on travels through Europe as well as in his everyday life, creating sculptures that boasted exquisite color pairings and subdued, streamlined forms. He worked at Boda for 20 years.

The Swedish National Museum purchased Höglund’s early works for an exhibition of Swedish glass art, and in 1957, Höglund’s stunning and expressive objects and sculptures earned the Danish Lunning Prize — the highest honor for an up-and-coming Scandinavian artist. He garnered international acclaim and his colorful iron and glass candleholders, candelabras and vases went on display in New York City. His work is held in the collections of the Blekinge Museum, the National Museum of Stockholm and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Höglund left Boda in 1973 to establish his own smithery. He returned to glass design in the subsequent years, when the legendary innovator created richly colored and provocative works for Pukeberg, Åhus, Nový Bor and other manufacturers.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Erik Höglund decorative objects, lighting and dinnerware. 

For thousands of years, vases and vessels have had meaningful functional value in civilizations all over the world. In Ancient Greece, ceramic vessels were used for transporting water and dry goods, holding bouquets of flowers, for storage and more. Outside of utilitarian use, in cities such as Athens, vases were a medium for artistic expression — pottery was a canvas for artists to illustrate their cultures’ unique people, beliefs and more. And pottery skills were handed down from fathers to sons.

Every antique and vintage vase and vessel, from decorative Italian urns to French 19th-century Louis XVI–style lidded vases, carries with it a rich, layered story. 

On 1stDibs, there is a vast array of vases and vessels in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes. Our collection features vessels made from delicate materials such as ceramic and glass as well as durable materials like rustproof metals and stone.

A contemporary vase can help introduce an air of elegance to your minimalist space while an antique Chinese jar would make a luxurious addition to an Asian-inspired interior. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a statement piece, consider an Art Deco vase crafted by Italian architect and furniture designer Gio Ponti.

Vases and vessels — be they handmade pots, handblown glass wine bottles or otherwise — are versatile, practical decorative objects, and no matter your particular design preferences, furniture style or color scheme, they can add beauty and warmth to any home. Find yours on 1stDibs today.