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.
Set of 6 Mid-Century Swedish Glass Plates from Kosta Boda, 1960s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Swedish Glass Plates from Kosta Boda, 1960s, Set of 6, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 Official proof of authenticity suc...
Glass
$185
H 0.75 in Dm 9.5 in
Mid-Century Orfinox French Faience Mustard Yellow Seaweed Oyster Plate, 1960s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A mid-century oyster or seafood plate, made by Orfinox, circa 1960s. A mustard yellow ground with six oyster shell shaped wells for holding the oyster, clam, or mussel meat, with ...
Faience
Set Of Six French Mid Century Longchamp Fish Plates
By Longchamps
Located in New Orleans, LA
A set of six French Mid Century Modern fish plates by Longchamp, with shaped, beautifully reticulated and gilt rims. Each one representing a different fish species.
Faience
Italian Mid-Century Restaurant Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 8
By C.A.S. Vietri, Solimene
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian mid-century Restaurant Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 8 A set of 8 different restaurant collectible plates made of hand-painted ceramic. There is a special edition of "Italy...
Ceramic
$2,500 / set
H 0.7 in Dm 10 in
Piero Fornasetti Set of Six Strumenti Musicali Dinner Plates, 1950s-1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Harmonious Design: A Set of Piero Fornasetti 'Strumenti Musicali' Plates, 1950s–1960s This captivating set of six Piero Fornasetti plates from the 1950s–1960s exemplifies the artist...
Ceramic, Pottery
Set of 12 Mid-Century Italian Terracotta Blue Spatter Plates
Located in New York, NY
Set of Twelve Italian blue spatter plates. Twelve vintage glazed terracotta 8” luncheon or appetizer salad dessert plates with wonderfully hand spattered blue dots, each unique. Ital...
Terracotta
Italian Mid-Century Restaurant Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 8
By Solimene, C.A.S. Vietri
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian mid-century Restaurant Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 8 A set of 8 different restaurant collectible plates made of hand-painted ceramic. Made in Italy in the 70s - 2000s. Th...
Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Italian Glazed Ceramic Tomato Plates - Set of 8
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This charming set of eight vintage Italian majolica plates is a delightful celebration of mid-century trompe l’oeil artistry. Hand-crafted in Italy with a vibrant, high-gloss red gla...
Ceramic
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
Set of Six French Glass Plates
By Lalique
Located in New York, NY
Set of Six French Glass Plates.Set of six clear lunch or dinner France, 1980s Dimensions: 8" diameter x .75" height.
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
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