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.
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp by Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors, Sweden
By Orrefors, Carl Fagerlund
Located in Göteborg, SE
Add a touch of timeless sophistication to your living space with this Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp designed by Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors. A true representation of Scandinavian cra...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp by Carl Fagerlund, Orrefors, Sweden
By Orrefors, Carl Fagerlund
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-blue vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish table lamp with a new white round shade made of hand blown clear Orrefors glass, designed by Carl Fagerl...
Metal, Chrome
$1,800
H 19.69 in Dm 10.24 in
Midcentury Table Lamp Designed by Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors Glass, 1950s
By Carl Fagerlund, Orrefors
Located in Lejre, DK
Table lamp in glass designed by Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors Sweden in the 1950s. Great original condition.
Fabric, Art Glass
Scandinavian Modern Table Lamp, Hans-Ove Sandeberg for Kosta, ca1960s
By Kosta Boda, Ove Sandeberg
Located in Örebro, SE
Stylish, Scandinavian Modern table lamp by Hans-Ove Sandeberg for Kosta, ca1960s. Signed with makers mark. Good vintage condition, wear and patina consistent with age and use. Pleas...
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp by Carl Fagerlund, Sweden, 1950
By Carl Fagerlund, Orrefors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish crystal glass table, featuring a one light socket. The Scandinavian desk light was designed by Carl Fagerlund and produced by Orrefors in ...
Crystal
Midcentury Bergboms B-024 Table Lamp, 1960s, Sweden
By Bergboms
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
The table version of the iconic Bergboms design. Cast iron base finished in brass. This table lamp will give that great look to a vintage home or a twist to the modern home. Very...
Brass
Lotte and Gunnar Bostlund Large Table Lamp
By Lotte and Gunnar Bostlund
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Large table lamp by Lotte and Gunnar Bostlund. While produced in Canada and the US, the ceramicist duo were from Denmark. This is an unusual and welcomed ...
Ceramic
$4,900
H 24.25 in W 14.75 in D 14.75 in
20th Century Swedish Orrefors Table Lamp - Scandinavian Light by Olle Alberius
By Olle Alberius, Orrefors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sculptural, vintage Mid-Century modern Swedish table lamp with a new beige round shade, made of hand blown slightly smoked glass, designed by Olle Alberius for Orrefors in good con...
Metal, Chrome
$760Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.63 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
Bergboms B-017 Midcentury Table Lamp, 1960s, Sweden.
By Bergboms
Located in Bromma, SE
Scandinavian Modern, Clean and Minimalistic Table Lamp in Brass made by Bergbom, Sweden. Model B-017 has a stable base of cast iron and a foot in brass. Design by Alf Svensson and M...
Brass
Mid-Century Holm-Sørensen Table Lamp, Blown Glass, Chrome Base
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Bergboms
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Long-stemmed white blown glass table lamp designed by Svend Aage Holm-Sørensen for Kastrup Holmegaard in the 1960s. The milk glass body features graceful curves and an elongated neck...
Chrome
An elegant glass art table lamp made by Bengt Orup for Hyllinge Glasbruk, Sweden
By Bengt Orup
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
This is a beautiful, elegant, rather tall and slender hand-blown vintage glass lamp base, handmade by the talented Bengt Orup for Hyllinge glas...
Blown Glass
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic large Table Lamp from Axella, Denmark
By Axella Stentøj
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A rather large and substantial handmade ceramic stoneware lamp base made by Axella, Denmark. It has a 70s Mid-century modern feeling to it, yet still is this lamp classic with a tim...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid-century modern pottery table lamp made by Rolf Palm, Sweden.
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Condition: Excellent. The lamp base is in perfect vintage condition with no visible damage. Description A beautiful handmade ceramic stoneware table lamp base by Rolf Palm, produced...
Ceramic
A large pine table lamp from Luxus Sweden design by Uno & Östen Kristiansson
By Luxus of Sweden, Uno & Östen Kristiansson
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Large Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp by Uno & Östen Kristiansson for Luxus, Sweden, 1960s A striking and rare large-scale table lamp designed by Uno & Östen Kristiansson for ...
Pine, Wood
Mid-century modern pottery table lamp with "Candy glazing" from Söholm, Denmark.
By Soholm Pottery
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A charming vintage handmade ceramic stoneware lamp base by Söholm, Denmark, featuring their signature deep blue “candy” glaze. This elegant and timeless piece combines a classic silh...
Ceramic
Mid-century Danish pottery table lamp by Marianne Starck for M. Andersen
By Marianne Starck, Michael Andersen & Son
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A rather large Vintage Ceramic Table Lamp with perforated ceramic by Marianne Starck for Michael Andersen A striking vintage ceramic table lamp designed by Marianne Starck for Michae...
Ceramic
