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.
Vintage Kosta Boda Swedish Cake Plate, Glass, 1970s, Good Condition
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Swedish Cake Plate from Kosta Boda, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 Official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer records. Addition...
Glass
Vintage Flowers Decorative Porcelain Plate, Germany, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Decorative Flowers plate from Bavaria, Germany. Produced in 1970s. The plate is hand painted. Plate is in very good vintage condition, no damage or cracks. Original glass. Beautifu...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Glass
Rosella Glass Cake Plate by Mikasa
By Mikasa
Located in Bradenton, FL
A decorative glass plate in the Rosella pattern made by Mikasa of New Jersey. Frosted glass is etched with roses on the underside and decorated in pink, surrounded by delicate foliag...
Glass
$98Sale Price|30% Off
H 3.94 in W 13.39 in D 13.39 in
Vintage Glass Cake Stand Cake Plateau Flowers Mikasa Calypso
By Mikasa
Located in Poperinge, BE
Beautiful blue and pink glass cake stand, cake plateau with pink flowers in relief, design by Walther Mikasa, model is called Calypso, vintage object from the 80s, West Germany. Hig...
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
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
Glass Cake Stand Vintage Modern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a vintage modern glass cake stand . Unmarked. No information on the maker. No glass dome. Dimensions: 13.38" diameter x 1.38" H Please visit take a look at ...
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 Decorative Mini Grape Porcelain Plate, Germany, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Decorative Grape plate from Bavaria, Germany. Produced in 1970s. The plate is hand painted. Plate is in very good vintage condition, no damage or c...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Glass
$174
H 1.19 in W 11.03 in D 11.03 in
Vintage Transparent Decorative Crystal Glass Fruit or Cake Plate, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Decorative transparent crystal glass plate from Italy. Plate is in very good vintage condition, no damage or cracks. Original glass. Beautiful piece for every interior! Only one uniq...
Ceramic, Glass
Art Glass Vase by Kosta Boda
By Kosta Boda
Located in Water Mill, NY
Handblown art glass in colors of muted orange, yellow, green and purple by Kosta Boda. Artist Signed and Numbert.
1970s Fumé Glass Decorative Plate from Italy, 30cm, Mint Condition
Located in Roma, IT
Glass decorative plate is an original decorative object realized in the 1970s. Original Art Glass. Fumé glass. Made in Italy. Total dimensions: 4 x 30 x 30 cm. Mint condi...
Glass
$796
H 1.97 in Dm 9.45 in
Smoke Blue Glass Centre Piece Dish by Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda, Sweden 1970s
By Göran Wärff, Kosta Boda
Located in Barcelona, ES
Smoke blue glass dish / serving platter, designed by Göran Wärff for Kosta Boda, Sweden 1970s. Sits elegantly elevated on any surface due the shape of the base, letting the light shi...
Art Glass
Raindrop Vase by Göran Wärff for Kosta 1980s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Raindrop vase by Göran Wärff for Kosta 1980s Item e6581 A vintage art glass vase designed by Göran Wärff and manufactured by Kosta Glasbruk ca. 1980s. Made of thick handblown lead ...
Art Glass