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.
Erik Höglund Art Glass Medallions - Sculptural Ashtrays or Paperweights, Sweden
By Erik Höglund
Located in Bochum, NRW
Erik Höglund Art Glass Medallions - Sculptural Ashtrays or Paperweights, Sweden, 1960s A striking pair of hand-cast glass medallions by renowned Swedish artist Erik Höglund, circa 19...
Art Glass
$979
H 0.99 in Dm 3.27 in
Sculptural Bronze Paperweight / Ashtray – Monique Gerber, France, circa 1970
By Monique Gerber
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A refined and sculptural bronze paperweight or ashtray by the French artist Monique Gerber, dating from circa 1970. Elegantly modeled in the form of a single marguerite (daisy) petal...
Bronze
Pressed Glass Amber Chandelier Erik Höglund Sweden, 1960s
By Kosta Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in London, GB
Description: A wrought-iron and pressed-glass chandelier designed by Erik Höglund for Kosta Boda during the 1960s. The blackened wrought-iron framework of this 6-armed chandelier is ...
Iron
Millefiori Paperweight Murano Italian Art Glass Paperweight, 1960s
By Formia Murano
Located in Antwerp, BE
Murano midcentury modern 1960s Millefiori flower, green, blue, red, white murine Italian Art Glass paperweight.
Art Glass, Murrine
Erik Höglund - Set of 2 glass Ashtray ''Robot''
By Erik Höglund
Located in Stockholm, SE
Set of 2 Ashtrays/Decorative ''Robot'' trays by Erik Höglund from the 1960's. Emerald Green Tray - 11x11 CM Blue Tray - 9 CM
Art Glass
Adam Jablonski Sommerso Sculpture or Paperweight, Polish Art Glass
By Adam Jablonski
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Colorful abstract art glass sculpture or paperweight features flattened teardrop shape with central core of cranberry red glass with controlled bubbles, enclosed in a layer of clear...
Art Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Early Hiroshi Yamano Art Glass Sculpture or Paperweight, 1988
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Early Art Glass sculpture by Hiroshi Yamano features a grouping of raising controlled air bubbles in the center of a clear glass disc object. The bubbles are partially enveloped by pale green, pink, and blue colored glass layers that are flowing around and through the central structure. The underside is polished flat, adding clarity to the sculpture and emphasizing the use of negative space in the composition. The sculpture is signed and dated by the artist in etching on the underside; it can be used as a paperweight, if desired. It is contemporary to Yamano's famous "From East to West" series, that he started in the late 1980s, while he was a graduate student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The sculpture was created in 1988; it is evocative of flowing water and underwater views. While we don't think that the sculpture is a part of the series, it is an important early work and a reflection on his studies. Hiroshi Yamano (b. 1956) is recognized as one of Japan's foremost and innovative glass artists. He attended the California College of Arts and Crafts, the Tokyo Art Institute, and Penland School of Crafts (where he served as an assistant), before receiving his Masters in Fine Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, in 1989. Yamano began working with glass after seeing an exhibition of Scandinavian glass in Kyoto. At California College of Arts and Crafts he studied under Marvin Lipofsky, learning the creative aspects of glass. In 1986 he worked as an instructor at Leon Applebaum...
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
$938 / set
H 3.94 in W 3.35 in D 3.15 in
Swedish glass book stands by Erik Höglund Boda, Sweden, 1960s
By Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Beautiful sculptural book stands designed by Erik Höglund. Produced by Swedish company Boda suring the 1960s. Made in frosted glass. Signed on bottom.
Glass
Blue Glass Tray by Erik Höglund, Boda, Sweden
By Erik Höglund, Boda
Located in Goteborg, SE
Large hand blown glass tray by Erik Höglund, made at Boda glassworks. The tray is typical for Höglund's rustic style, with irregular bubbles in t...
Glass
$938 / set
H 4.34 in W 3.15 in D 3.15 in
Swedish glass book stands by Erik Höglund Boda, Sweden, 1960s
By Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Beautiful sculptural book stands designed by Erik Höglund. Produced by Swedish company Boda suring the 1960s. Made in frosted glass. Signed on bottom.
Glass
$480
H 3.9 in W 3.4 in D 2.25 in
Gilbert Johnson Veiled Glass Sculpture or Paperweight, Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
American studio glass sculpture or paperweight features organic elongated shape with a veiled internal design. Controlled air bubbles, that are dispersed inside the glass, create an...
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
Robert Held Sculptural Art Glass Paperweight, Canada, 20th Century
By Robert Held
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Robert Held Sculptural Art Glass Paperweight, Canada, 20th Century. Signed to the bottom.
Art Glass
Glass Vase by Erik Hoglund for Kosta Boda, Sweden
By Erik Höglund
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Glass vase made by Erik Hoglund for Kosta Boda, Sweden in the 1960s. Not signed. Small chips at the base.
Blown Glass
Eik Höglund - Glass Paperweights
By Kosta Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: These paperweights by Erik Höglund will definitely brighten up your workplace. Höglund was a family man who got inspired by the creative process in his younger years already. A smart rebellious moderniser at heart Höglund, having his work refused at the glass shops of Sweden, set up his own exhibitions and convinced the art director at boda that with time customers would flock in. Hard work paid off and Höglund won the prestigious Danish Luning prize in 1957. Sales skyrocketed along with his fame, earning him the name "wonder boy" in the United States. Höglund did not consider himself a glass-artist solely. Höglund combined his glass art with iron in his famous chandeliers, painted on canvas and sculpted in bronze and terracotta. All the paperweights have a figurative relief pressed into them. A naked woman is pressed into two of the paperweights, the two blue paperweights hold a ship anchor, the blank rectangular paperweight a robot and a cat houses...
Glass
Sold
H 0.99 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
1960s Swedish Kosta Boda Olive Glass Warrior Shield & Sword Dish by Erik Hoglund
By Kosta Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in London, England
1960s Small Swedish paperweight, ashtray or trinket dish which is made from a thick piece of square coloured light olive glass. The warrior with a sword...
Glass, Art Glass
Sold
H 0.99 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
1960s Swedish Kosta Boda Teal Glass Trinket Dish Viking Ship by Erik Hoglund
By Kosta Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in London, England
1960s Small Swedish paperweight, ashtray or trinket dish which is made from a thick piece of square coloured dark teal glass. The viking ship design is...
Glass, Art Glass
Kosta Art Glass Ram Sculpture by Erik Höglund
By Erik Höglund, Kosta Boda
Located in Astoria, NY
A sculptural ram by Erik Höglund for Kosta Boda, produced in Sweden, circa 1950s-1960s, crafted of clear, artfully detailed glass, mounted on a metal stand. Very good vintage conditi...
Metal