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.
Kosta Boda Attributed Orange Red Sandblasted Glass Sculptural Tabletop Mirror
By Kosta Boda
Located in North Miami, FL
This charming small glass Kosta Boda attributed tabletop mirror in the shape of a cat's ears has the French glass technique of the look of patte de verre but is sandblasted glass. Th...
Blown Glass, Mirror
1940s Mahogany Tabletop Vanity Mirror with Drawer
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1940s Mahogany Tabletop Vanity Mirror with Drawer Beveled Mirror Edges
Mirror, Mahogany
Large Round French Giltwood and Gesso Mirrored Tabletop Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gold Mirrored Round Oversized Tabletop Tray, 1920-1930's France One of a kind tabletop mirrored tray. This French ornate hand-carved gilt wood and gesso tray is a very versatile acc...
Gesso, Mirror, Giltwood
$725Sale Price|50% Off
H 19.8 in W 14 in D 5 in
Vintage Charles Hollis Jones Lucite Tabletop Vanity Mirror
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Charles Hollis Jones style Lucite and brass tabletop vanity mirror. 1960's era classic Mid-Century Modern double sided mirror. This gla...
Aluminum
$605
H 16.54 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
1970s Italian Tabletop Mirror in Coral Pink Plastic and Glass Pop Style
By Rodolfo Bonetto
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
A bold and sculptural tabletop mirror crafted in Italy in the 1970s, this piece embodies the essence of Pop-era Italian design. Inspired by the iconic Lipstick Mirror, its form is de...
Glass, Plastic
19th Century Indian Tabletop Vanity Mirror
Located in Topanga, CA
A charming teak tabletop vanity mirror with scrolled side supports, original arched top mirror frame and a drawer at the bottom. The mirror surface reveals the passage of time with a...
Glass, Wood
Large Brass Swivel Mirror Vanity Table Mirror
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Large solid brass oval double sided swivel vanity table mirror.
Glass, Mirror
Midcentury Italian Brass Vanity or Tabletop Mirror
By Luigi Brusotti
Located in Weesp, NL
Enhance Your Space with Timeless Elegance Step back into the glamorous era of the 1940s with this exquisite Italian brass and glass tabletop or vanity mirror. Crafted with meticulou...
Brass
$950
H 11.5 in W 9.5 in D 7 in
French Modern Leather-Wrapped Arched Tabletop Mirror, Style of Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Modern Leather-Wrapped Arched Tabletop Mirror, in the Style of Jacques Adnet, Late 20th C A refined French Modern arched tabletop mirror, clad in warm brown leather with visi...
Leather, Mirror
$2,495
H 27 in W 27.5 in D 5 in
Antique Art Nouveau Tabletop Vanity Oval Beveled Mirror w/Candle Holders
Located in Topeka, KS
Nostalgic antique Art Nouveau to Victorian tabletop vanity mirror composed of a mix of brass, copper, & bronze stand w/hand stamped decorative off-set crown piece, original oval ...
Brass, Bronze, Copper
Glass Relief Sculpture of Child by Erik Hoglund for Kosta Boda
By Erik Höglund
Located in Montreal, QC
Glass relief sculpture of child by Erik Hoglund for Kosta Boda inset in standing steel frame.
Glass
$1,795
H 29.5 in W 14.25 in D 8.25 in
Vintage Indonesian Maduran Tabletop Jewelry Case or Vanity Mirror w/Chest
Located in Topeka, KS
Magnificent vintage Indonesian Maduran tabletop jewelry case or vanity mirror w/chest composed of wood frame with gilded and painted details. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind tha...
Brass
English Regency Mahogany Large Tabletop Shaving Mirror
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic elegant mahogany tabletop shaving mirror with large lidded felt lined box for storage. Mid to late 19thc English Regency mirror. Columns flank each side with bun feet. Hig...
Brass
Blue and Pink Mirror by Erik Höglund, Boda Glass, Sweden, 1967
By Kosta Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in Berlin, DE
Scandinavian Modern mirror by Erik Höglund for Eriksmåla, Kosta Boda, 1967 Those familiar with Höglunds glass design will recognize the same simplicity, humor and a fine sense of ...
Glass, Wood