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.
Swedish Apple Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Swedish Apple Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer reco...
Glass
Swedish Bird Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Swedish Bird Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda, 1970s, in Very Good conditions Designed 1970 to 1979 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer record...
Glass
Swedish Fish Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Swedish Fish Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer recor...
Glass
Swedish Bird Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda, 1970s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Hamburg, DE
Swedish Bird Window Decoration in Glass from Kosta Boda, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer recor...
Glass
Ceramic Tile Wall Art Decoration from a Cat
By Tackoen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Ceramic tile wall art decoration from a cat. Height 94 cm. Width 47 cm. Depth 3 cm.
Wood, Ceramic
1970s earthenware wall decoration with thistle decorations
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
1970s earthenware wall decoration with thistle decorations. Earthenware wall decoration / dish with glazed front with thistle decorations and a matte backside signed by the ceramicis...
Earthenware, Ceramic
$460
H 9.88 in W 16.63 in D 0.5 in
Fossil Bonefish Fish Copper Wall Decoration Wall Panel Picture Vintage, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful, vintage copper Bone Fish themed wall decor picture. It would make a beautiful ornament at your wall. Vibrant colors and excellent craftsmanship. Also a great wall hangin...
Copper
Crane Copper Wall Decoration Wall Panel Plaque Vintage, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful, vintage copper crane themed wall decor. It would make a beautiful wall decoration in a seating or living area. Vibrant colors and excellent craftsmanship. Made in the 19...
Copper
Landscape Crane Birds Brass Wall Decoration Vintage, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful vintage brass crane themed wall decoration. This decorative item would make a beautiful ornament on each wall. Made in the 1960s it di...
Brass
Large Flying Swallow Bird Nickel Metal Wall Decoration Vintage, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful large vintage nickel flying swallow wall decoration. This would make a beautiful ornament on a wall. It comes with some patina and looks it is an excellent craftsmanship....
Nickel
Stained Glass Rectangular Wood Framed Window
Located in Guaynabo, PR
An old stained glass window designed as a bell shaped arc that is decorated in the center with a green leave wreath with flirtatious pink ribb...
Glass
$1,800
H 37.2 in W 8.86 in D 3.64 in
Spectacular antique wall decoration fish gargoyle, patinated copper, 1900 France
Located in Wien, AT
Stunning huge wall decoration - a fish in the reeds, made of pure copper that has been patinated - an original from the Art Nouveau period, made around 1900 in France. There are many...
Copper
$360
H 5.12 in W 14.18 in D 0.79 in
John Käll, Elme Sweden. Wall-mounted art glass relief with Viking ship, 1970s.
Located in København, Copenhagen
John Käll for Elme Sweden Wall-mounted art glass relief with Viking ship, 1970s. Rectangular wall hanging in deep red/orange glass, signed John Käll in mould and marked ELME SWEDEN. ...
Art Glass
Tapestry ‘Zebra’ Attributed to Kerstin Bäckman, Sweden, 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Tapestry ‘Zebra’ attributed to Kerstin Bäckman, Sweden. 1970s. Hand woven. Signed. H: 73 cm / 2' 4 3/4" W: 52 cm / 1' 8 1/2".
Fabric
$883
H 11.03 in W 12.52 in D 2.17 in
Lizzie Schnakenburg Thyssen Unique Ceramic Wall Decor Fish and Motherhood, 1970s
By Lizzie Thyssen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Unique ceramic wall decor by the Danish ceramist Lizzie Schnakenburg Thyssen. Made in 1970. The wall sconce consists of a large ceramic tile in center with a mother fish with a small fish in her belly. They are surrounded by several smaller ceramic tiles in brown, some of them also depicting fishes. The tiles are mounted on a chipboard and it can be hung on the wall. The motif is a tribute to Motherhood and Fertility. Lizzie Thyssen has made several wall decors showing mother animal with their babies in their bellys. Marked at side: Lizzie Thyssen Juli - 70 Marked on fish...
Ceramic, Wood
1970s Andy Warhol Art in America
By Andy Warhol
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Andy Warhol issue of Art in America magazine, featuring four articles on the artist ("Warhol: The Medium As Cultural Artifact," "A Catalogue Raisonn...
Paper
Erik Höglund Glass Relief Plaque for Kosta Boda
By Kosta Boda, Erik Höglund
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative smoked glass plaque with embossed, medieval motif, of three knights on a horse. The plaque measures 10.25 inches wide by 11 inches tall and hangs from a black chain link m...
Smoked Glass
Petite Glass Eagle Wall Hanging by Kosta Boda
By Kosta Boda
Located in San Diego, CA
Petite glass eagle wall hanging by Kosta Boda. This piece has a nice texture and color.
Blown Glass
Sold
H 70.87 in W 19.69 in D 1.97 in
Rare Large Unicum Eric Hoglund Wrought Iron and Glass Wall Sculpture, Sweden
By Erik Höglund, Kosta Boda
Located in Antwerp, BE
This original Eric Hoglund for Kosta Boda wall sculpture was made of hand-wrought iron and rectangular colored glass pieces in amber, blue and green in various sizes, Swedish, circa...
Wrought Iron