Bertil Vallien for (Kosta) Boda, Volcano Series, Miniature Art Glass Bottle Vase, 1980s, Swedish

This striking handblown work of Swedish art glass design is by Bertil Vallien (b. 1938 - ), celebrated glass artist, sculptor, ceramist, and designer. Vallien's career in glass began at Boda Glassworks in 1963, upon his return to Sweden from his studies in art and ceramics, both in Sweden and the US. Vallien's experimentation with sand-casting glass techniques would eventually bring him fame and this fascination is evident even in this exploratory piece.

The exterior surface of this piece is undulating, uneven, and with a base colour of pearlescent green. The next layer is a dappling in rich Inky Indigo which encircles the bowl interspersed with what appears to be a Powdered Peach tone. The iridescence is underpinned with lava-rock-like texture and the whole piece is finished with a dusted Peridot-toned 'pebble'. The interior of the bowl is a smooth, semi-matte and frosted layer of glass overlaid in iridescence.

The overall effect is quite spectacular, giving the air of a delicate bowl carved from an extraterrestrial iridescent geode of quartz crystal and lava. 

This particular piece is numbered and marked as 'Unik', indicating that it is a unique piece and when combined with the design, craftsmanship and condition, makes this piece a rare find. 

CONDITION
Excellent, no chips, cracks or repairs. Age-commensurate wear, most prominently on the underside of the bowl, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The bowl is inscribed with 'BODA UNIK 3645 B.VALLIEN. The exterior also bears the silver label 'Handmade Boda Sweden'.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 3.2" /  8.2 cm x c. 4.1" / 10.4 cm diameter (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 2" / 5cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.3 kg / 275 g.

NOTES
Bowl will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Born in 1938, Bertil Vallien was only 15 when he left home, drawn by the allure of the big city. After a series of occasional jobs, as a window-dresser at one of the main department stores in Stockholm, and as an apprentice in his father's decorating firm, Vallien would eventually decide to become an artist which would lead him into the world of ceramics. The guidance he received in his early career included that of Stig Lindberg - one of Sweden's foremost designers of ceramic art and one of the leading designers for Rörstrand in the 1970s.

Today, Vallien is one of the most well-known representatives of 20th-century Swedish ceramic and art glass design and is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design as well as abroad at the Everson Museum of Art of New York.

Vallien's works have only become more collectable over the years with sculptures from his Head and Journey (Boat) series fetching up to $20,000 USD.

This sleek work of Scandinavian Modern art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983). Lindstrand is considered one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a glass art pioneer. His prolific career held many design highlights, including his ability to excel at a technique called Sommerso in which a vividly coloured or patterned section of glass is surrounded by and seemingly floats within a clear crystal body.

This particular piece comes from the Colora series, named after the technique pioneered by Lindstrand. The technique applied to this piece involved carefully layering the Cobalt, Lapis coloured glass, reheating and manipulating the layered glass to form the final shape before encasing it in the clear, crystal casing and magnifying the underlying pattern. The piece is finished with a bevelled around the rim and base, giving the effect of a polished gem.

The design of this work embodies the tenets of simplicity, minimalism and functionality influences of the Scandinavian Modern design movement. 

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that are commensurable with the age of the piece - please see photos as part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed with the inscription 'Kosta' and the model number: '06085'

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 6.6" / 16.7 cm (from base to rim) x c. 3.4" / 8.6 cm in diameter (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3.4" / 8.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.5 kg / 1,500 g

A BIT OF HISTORY
This sleek work of Scandinavian Modern art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983). Lindstrand is considered one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a glass art pioneer. Lindstrand, together with his peer Edvin Öhström, pioneered a new glass-colouring process called the Ariel technique.

Lindstrand's prolific career began in commercial illustration before finding employment at the glass manufactory Orrefors. He would join Kosta Boda 1950, remaining there until 1973. Beyond his commercial work, he also produced several massive public sculptures around the world. Today, his works are in many museum collections, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Kosta Boda, Sweden’s oldest glass company, was founded in 1742 and would only begin making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Kosta Boda enjoys a reputation as the country’s most artistic and experimental glassworks, featuring artists and sculptors.
Two post-war Kosta Boda designers stand foremost in the minds of collectors, one is Vicke Lindstrand, who excelled at a technique of 'Sommerso', or cased glass. 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.

This striking work of Swedish art glass design is by Bertil Vallien (b. 1938 - ), a celebrated glass artist, sculptor, ceramist, and designer. This piece is attributed as a variation of the Columbus series which Vallien created for Kosta Boda and is 1 of 100 pieces. 

Suspended inside the sculpture are symbols through which Vallien communicates, icons, and mythological expression. This boat tells the journey from yesterday to tomorrow. The ship forms an encapsulated timeline where the stern is the past, and the bow is what is to come. The center of the boat bears the passenger, ladder, and a celestial body. The bow is clear, as the future is unwritten and hopeful. The piece is finished with solid clear interior created by the pouring of molten glass and silver plating on the exterior.

Vallien's sand casting technique has brought him worldwide acclaim. Using wooden models, he creates a hollow in the sand which is then filled with various powdered oxides giving finishings from textures to frosted patterns of colour. The 'story' is created by Vallien with the placement of the symbols and icons before molten glass is poured into the sand moulds.  

CONDITION
Excellent, no chips, cracks or repairs. Age-commensurate wear, most prominently on the exterior silver plating, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The sculpture is inscribed with '7520114 Kosta Boda, Lim. ['Limited Edition'] B Vallien ' and labelled on the exterior with the 'KOSTA BODA, Sweden 1742' label.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 2.3" / 5.8 cm x c. 9.8" / 25 cm in length x c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm width.  Unpackaged weight: c. 1.2 kg / 1,205 g

NOTES
Sculpture will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Born in 1938, Bertil Vallien was only 15 when he left home, drawn by the allure of the big city. After a series of occasional jobs, as a window-dresser at one of the main department stores in Stockholm, and as an apprentice in his father's decorating firm, Vallien would eventually decide to become an artist which would lead him into the world of ceramics. The guidance he received in his early career included that of Stig Lindberg - one of Sweden's foremost designers of ceramic art and one of the leading designers for Rörstrand in the 1970s.

Today, Vallien is one of the most well-known representatives of 20th-century Swedish ceramic and art glass design and is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design as well as abroad at the Everson Museum of Art of New York.

Vallien's works have only become more collectable over the years with sculptures from his Head and Journey (Boat) series fetching up to $20,000 USD.

This delicious handblown work of Postmodern art glass is by leading Swedish glass artist Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -) for Kosta Boda. From his popular series named Bon Bon that was designed by Engman in 1989, the series remained in production until 2005. 

Accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his seemingly unlimited imagination with art glass, it's easy to see why Engman named this series Bon Bon. With candy-coloured pieces ranging from pairing Candied Mint with Coquelicot orange to Sky Blue paired with Jewel yellow shaped into forms as joyful as the vibrant colour palette. 

The central part of this particular piece is spheroid-shaped, beautifully curved, and toned in Candied Lemon. Embedded into the spheroid are the stripes of Amethyst and Lilac purple forming the neck, the merging of the two colours finishing in a lightly sanded texture. This work is further accented with a handle in Candied coral and finished with a clear base.

Vivid and vibrant, this excellent work is an addition of delight to its surrounding space.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece - please see photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed, denoting 'Kosta Boda, Artist's Coll[ection], K Engman, 89065'

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 10.5" / 26.7 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 5.3" / 13.5 cm in width (across widest point). Depth: c. 2.2" / 5.7 cm. Rim: c. 1.9" / 4.7 cm. Base: c. 3.3" / 8.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.9 kg / 860 g

NOTES
Pitcher vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items. 

A BIT OF HISTORY
Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -), was accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his seemingly unlimited imagination with art glass and known for being one of ten highly talented artists. Since joining Kosta Boda in 1978, Engman has designed a number of iconic series, drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as the animal kingdom, the world of music and entertainment.

Engman's style is distinctive and immediately recognisable. Common characteristics to his work include being bold, bright and colourful, ranging from the playful to the delicate to the sensuous. It could almost be described as Dali-esque and does not conform to preconceptions of simple, minimalist Swedish design.

Engman has often been commissioned at home in Sweden and abroad, designing works for public display and even famous pieces such as the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest trophy. Engman's latest works and installations can be found at his dedicated website: http://www.kjellengman.com/

This delicious handblown work of Postmodern art glass is by leading Swedish glass artist Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -) for Kosta Boda. From his popular series named Bon Bon was designed by Engman in 1989, the series remained in production until 2005. 

Accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his seemingly unlimited imagination with art glass, it's easy to see why Engman named this series Bon Bon. With candy-coloured pieces ranging from pairing Lavender lilac with Lemon yellow to Marmalade orange with Sky blue in forms as joyful as the vibrant colour palette. 

The central part of this particular piece is spheroid-shaped, beautifully curved, and toned in Candied Sapphire blue. Embedded into the spheroid are the stripes of Coquelicot and Coral orange forming the neck, the merging of the two colours finishing in a lightly sanded texture. This work is further accented with a tiered stopper in candied tones of Sapphire, Lemon, Mint and Cherry. 

Vivid and vibrant, this excellent work is an addition of delight to its surrounding space.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece - please see photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed, denoting 'Kosta Boda, Artist's Coll[ection], K Engman, 89650'

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 10.4" / 26.5 cm tall (from base to stopper) x c. 6.2" / 15.7 cm in width (across widest point). Depth: c. 4.1" / 10.3 cm. Rim: c. 1.8" / 4.5 cm. Base: c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: 1.3 kg / 1,310 g

NOTES
Decanter will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items. 

A BIT OF HISTORY
Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -), was accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his seemingly unlimited imagination with art glass and known for being one of ten highly talented artists. Since joining Kosta Boda in 1978, Engman has designed a number of iconic series, drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as the animal kingdom, the world of music and entertainment.

Engman's style is distinctive and immediately recognisable. Common characteristics to his work include being bold, bright and colourful, ranging from the playful to the delicate to the sensuous. It could almost be described as Dali-esque and does not conform to preconceptions of simple, minimalist Swedish design.

Engman has often been commissioned at home in Sweden and abroad, designing works for public display and even famous pieces such as the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest trophy. Engman's latest works and installations can be found at his dedicated website: http://www.kjellengman.com/

This delicious handblown work of Post Modern art glass is by leading Swedish glass artist Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -), accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his unlimited imagination with art glass.

This piece is from the popular series named Bon Bon, designed by Engman in 1989. It's easy to see why this series was named Bon Bon, with the candy-coloured pieces ranging from pairing Lavender lilac with Lemon yellow to Marmalade orange with Sky blue.

The central part of this particular piece is spheroid shaped, beautifully curved, and toned in a Candied Sapphire blue. Fused into the spheroid is the pitcher stem in striped tones of Coquelicot and Coral orange, the mergng between the two colours is finished with light sand texture. This work is further accented with an organically shaped Lemon yellow handle and finished with a disc of clear glass for the base.

The overall composition of this work is of great harmony, demonstrated in the stunning blending of colour with form and size, makes this a statement piece.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece - please see photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed, denoting 'Kosta Boda, K Engman, 89066'

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 14" / 36 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 8.1" / 20.5 cm in width (across widest point). Depth: c. 3.7" / 9.5 cm. Rim: c. 2.3" / 5.8 cm. Base: c. 3.9" / 10 cm. Unpackaged weight: 1.9 kg / 1,880 g

NOTES
Pitcher vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Kjell Engman (b. 1946 -), accoladed with the name 'Glass Wizard' for his unlimited imagination with art glass and known for being one of ten highly talented artists. Since joining Kosta Boda in 1978, Engman has designed a number of iconic series, drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as the animal kingdom, the world of music and entertainment.

Engman's style is distinctive and immediately recognisable. Common characteristics to his work include being bold, bright and colourful, ranging from the playful to the delicate to the sensuous. It could almost be described as Dali-esque and does not conform to preconceptions of simple, minimalist Swedish design.

Engman has often been commissioned at home in Sweden and abroad, designing works for public display and even famous pieces such as the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest trophy. Engman's latest works and installations can be found at his dedicated website: http://www.kjellengman.com/