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
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 for Boda, Amber Figural Art Glass Decanter, Sweden, 1950s
By Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare and highly sculptural amber glass decanter designed by Erik Höglund for Boda Glasbruk in the 1950s, exemplifying the designer’s iconic fusion of primitive expression and Scand...
Art Glass
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
Blue Glass Tray by Erik Höglund, Boda, Sweden
By Boda, Erik Höglund
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
Vintage Erik Höglund Signed Ruby Red Swedish Art Glass Vase for Boda c. 1960
By Erik Höglund, Kosta Boda
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage Swedish Ruby Red Art Glass Vase by Erik Hoglund for Boda circa 1960. Engraved on bottom: "H 998/110." Full of his signature air bubbles in the design. Erik Höglund (1932-1...
Blown Glass
Vintage Swedish Red Art Glass Vase by Erik Höglund for Boda
By Erik Höglund, Kosta Boda
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage Swedish Ruby Red Art Glass Vase by Erik Hoglund for Boda circa 1960. Engraved on bottom: "H 961/160." Full of his signature air bubbles in the design. Erik Höglund (1932-1...
Blown Glass
$384Sale Price|20% Off
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
$200Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.46 in W 3.1 in D 1.94 in
Adam Jablonski Blue 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 cobalt blue and white colored glass with controlled bubbles, enclosed in ...
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
FM Konstglas Swedish Art Glass Crystal Bird Millefiori Paperweight 1970s
By Marcolin Art Crystal
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Scandinavian modern small crystal bird figure sculpture ornament attributed to Fare Marcolin for FM Konstglas Crystal Bird of Ronneby Sweden circa 1970s. Vintage glass bird paperweight...
Crystal
$1,038
H 1.38 in W 7.49 in D 5.71 in
1950s Onyx Stone Hand Carved Ashtray, Jewelry Bowl or Paperweight
Located in Barcelona, ES
Lovely natural onyx stone ashtray, paperweight or rings bowl, Spain, 1950s-1960s. Cut and polished stone showing the mineral’s distinctive banding striations in different shades of ...
Stone, Onyx
$284
H 5.91 in W 5.91 in D 1.58 in
Square Art Glass / Serving Dish by Erik Höglund for Boda, Sweden 1960s
By Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in Barcelona, ES
Emblematic Erik Höglund design. Square blue art glass piece, with a deer (or possibly antelope) depicted at the centre of glass. Could be used as a serving element, or decorative tab...
Art Glass
Eik Höglund - Glass Paperweights
By Erik Höglund, Kosta Boda
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 Erik Höglund, Kosta Boda
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 Erik Höglund, Kosta Boda
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