Sweden’s oldest glass company, Kosta Boda, also enjoys a reputation as the country’s most artistic and experimental glassmaker. Since the late 19th century, Kosta Boda has hired painters, sculptors and other artists for short stints — generally two or three years — designing glassware, ensuring that the firm’s aesthetic is always lively and fresh.
Two former army officers founded Kosta Boda in 1742 in Sweden’s densely forested Småland province. (Plentiful timber was needed as fuel for the melting furnaces.) The glassworks’ early products consisted of everyday glassware, such as drinking vessels and windowpanes. As the company recruited master craftsmen from Bohemia, it created fine crystal for an aristocratic clientele.
Kosta Boda began making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Wennerberg worked in the Art Nouveau style and brought a lush, organic look to the company’s wares. He was followed to the firm by artists such as Edvin Ollers, who in the early 20th century created rich geometric and abstract floral patterns that were engraved on clear crystal.
Two postwar Kosta Boda designers stand foremost in the minds of collectors. One is Vicke Lindstrand, who excelled at a technique called cased glass, in which a vividly colored or patterned section of glass is surrounded by and seems to float within a clear crystal body. 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.
Kosta Boda created works in an astonishing array of styles, with something to suit any taste.
Find vintage Kosta Boda vases, bowls and other furniture and objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Crystal Hand Blown Glass Pedestal Bowl By Goran Warff For Kosta Boda, Turquoise
By Kosta Boda, Goran and Ann Warff
Located in North Miami, FL
This mouth hand blown Swedish crystal glass bowl by Kosta Boda is called the Vision bowl and was designed by Goran Warff. It features a striking and beautiful transition from turquoi...
Crystal
Vintage Swedish Glass Bowl from Kosta Boda
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Swedish Glass Bowl from Kosta Boda, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer records, or other ...
Glass
Kosta Boda "Sunflower" Ashtray Art Glass by Goran Warff
By Kosta Boda, Göran Wärff
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
A biomorphic art glass "Sunflower" ashtray by Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda made in Sweden, circa the 1980s. The ashtray is in good vintage condition with no chips or cracks.
Art Glass
Vintage ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda, Sweden, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Amazing ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda made in Sweden in the 1970s. The vintage ashtray is in excellent vintage condition. Dimensions: Width: 16...
Glass
$475
H 6 in W 6 in D 4 in
Swedish Mid-Century Modern Translucent Glass Vase by Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda
By Kosta Boda, Göran Wärff
Located in New York, NY
This stunning sculptural vase base was realized by Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda in Sweden circa 1960. It features an ovoid body with an assymetrical cavern in the center- imbuing the p...
Glass
Swedish Postmodern Aperitif Glass Kosta Boda, 1990s
By Kosta Boda
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish crystal and art-glass aperitif glass, hand-painted and initialed by artist, for Kosta Boda, Postmodern period, circa late-20th century, 1990s, Sweden. Beautiful colors include blue hand-painted design around base of crystal bowl, green and black art glass just below, a red art glass stem with red hand-painted design, finished with a yellow art glass base. Artist initials on the side of glass bowl and marker's mark at base, showing both authentication marks in last two images. Sip in style with this beautiful piece of art. Dimensions: 4.38" Height. Emerald green Champagne coupes glasses...
Crystal
Ulrica Hydman Vallien for Kosta Boda, Bowl in Mouth-Blown Art Glass
Located in København, Copenhagen
Ulrica Hydman Vallien for Kosta Boda. Bowl in mouth-blown art glass with fish motifs. Swedish design, 1980s. Measures: 22 x 14 cm. In very good condition. Signed.
Art Glass
Goran Warff Kosta Boda Bowl, Internally Decorated with Botanical Designs
By Göran Wärff
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This modern art glass bowl is internally decorated with botanical designs. It's in mint condition and marked on the bottom Kosta, Warff & 57368. It is certainly made by the hands o...
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Kosta Boda "Royal Arts Collection" Vase by Göran Wärff
By Göran Wärff, Kosta Boda
Located in New York, NY
This elegant Mid-Century Modern translucent glass vase was designed by the esteemed Goran Warff for Kosta Boda, circa 1960. It features an orbital body with rounded shoulders and a c...
Glass
$645
H 7.5 in W 4.25 in D 2.25 in
Modernist Rectangular Translucent Glass Vase by Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda
By Kosta Boda, Bertil Vallien
Located in New York, NY
This stunning modernist vase was realized by Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda in Sweden during the latter half of the 20th century. It features a volumetric rectangular body in transluc...
Blown Glass
Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda, Sculpture / Paper Weight in Clear Art Glass
Located in København, Copenhagen
Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda. Sculpture / paper weight in clear mouth-blown art glass with inlaid bubbles. Swedish design, 1970/80s. Measures: 11 x 7.5 cm. In excellent condition. ...
Art Glass
Vintage ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda, Sweden, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Amazing ice glass ashtray by Kosta Boda made in Sweden in the 1970s. The vintage ashtray is in excellent vintage condition. Dimensions: Width: 15 c...
Glass
Vintage Swedish Art Glass Bowl Vase by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta Boda, 1960s
By Vicke Lindstrand, Kosta Boda
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid century modern glass bowl vase by glass artist Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta Boda, Sweden circa 1960's. Features rich colorful hues of deep blue, green, and amber yellow. Incised on...
Glass