{"title":"Kosta Boda (Sweden)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKosta Boda\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Swedish glassware and art-glass brand rooted in the glassmaking traditions of Småland. Its history brings together the glassworks at Kosta, Boda and Åfors. Kosta itself was founded in 1742, while the combined company adopted the Kosta Boda name in 1976, an important distinction when considering the different periods represented by its glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Kosta works was established by Anders Koskull and George Bogislaus Staël von Holstein, with its name drawn from their surnames. Its position among Småland’s forests provided fuel for the furnaces and a location from which to supply Stockholm and Karlskrona. Early production included window glass and fine household wares, as well as chandeliers for customers able to afford these costly objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA turning point followed the Stockholm Exhibition of 1897, where Kosta was criticised for glass that resembled other European production. The factory responded by developing a more individual design identity. Gunnar G:son Wennerberg became its first dedicated designer in 1898, and Tyra Lundgren joined in 1935. This commitment to artists and designers became central to its development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mid-twentieth century brought different creative voices to the constituent glassworks. Vicke Lindstrand served as artistic director at Kosta, while Erik Höglund joined Boda in 1953 and challenged established ideas of refined glass with rustic forms and an interest in traditional craft. Designers including Monica Backström and Göran Wärff further broadened the group’s creative language, rather than establishing one uniform house style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWärff, who came to Kosta in 1964, explored glass through its relationship with light, colour and the natural world. Ann Wolff contributed another enduring design with the Snowball tealight holder, introduced in 1973. Such accessible objects show how artistic experimentation could become part of everyday interiors as well as specialist art-glass collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBertil Vallien and Ulrica Hydman Vallien became particularly important to Kosta Boda’s later identity. Bertil developed expressive sand-cast sculptures, especially the boats that became a signature of his work. Ulrica brought a bold, playful approach to painted glass, alongside collections including Mine, Tulipa and Caramba. Their contrasting practices illustrate the breadth of a brand that spans functional glassware, decorative vessels and sculptural art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRead more in Kosta Boda’s official history \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kostaboda.com\/history\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehere\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e, explore its artist biographies \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kostaboda.com\/designers\/erik-hoglund\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehere\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e and \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kostaboda.com\/designers\/ulrica-hydman-vallien\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehere\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e, and find the company-name chronology \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fjorn.com\/pages\/orrefors-kosta-boda-story\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehere\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kosta-boda-sweden-giraff-giraffe-7-glass-figurine-from-the-zoo-series-model-97753-3-designed-by-bertil-vallien-original-vintage-packaging","title":"Kosta Boda (Sweden) 'Giraff' (Giraffe) 7\" Glass Figurine, from the Zoo series | Model 97753-3, Original Vintage Packaging","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePattern\u003c\/strong\u003e 'Giraff' (Giraffe) 7\" Figurine, from the Zoo series\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesigner \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBertil Vallien\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e 17.5cm (7\") tall\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent condition, with no wear to mention\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e - this beauty also comes in its original vintage packaging. One small manufacturing flaw on the reverse side.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kosta Boda","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42966273622183,"sku":"","price":0.87,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0405\/5839\/5559\/files\/IMG_8691_99bd1fe5-df9b-42ac-9a63-37de440234ca.jpg?v=1710635743"},{"product_id":"kosta-boda-sweden-noshoring-rhinoceros-5-glass-figurine-from-the-zoo-series-model-97617-3-designed-by-bertil-vallien","title":"Kosta Boda (Sweden) 'Noshöring' (Rhinoceros) 5\" Glass Figurine, from the Zoo series | Model 97617-3","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePattern\u003c\/strong\u003e 'Noshöring' (Rhinoceros) 5\" Figurine, from the Zoo series\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesigner\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBertil Vallien\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e  13cm (5\") long\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent condition, with no wear to mention.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kosta Boda","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43156609400999,"sku":"KOS-NO-G-400999","price":0.87,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0405\/5839\/5559\/files\/IMG_0949_dd182bd9-c298-4431-9121-0d8b257d1461.jpg?v=1718452660"},{"product_id":"kosta-boda-sweden-open-minds-8-vase-designed-by-ulrica-hydman-vallien-original-vintage-packaging","title":"Kosta Boda (Sweden) 'Open Minds' 8\" Vase | Designed by Ulrica Hydman-Vallien | Original Vintage Packaging *RARE FIND*","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePattern\u003c\/strong\u003e '\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOpen Minds\u003c\/span\u003e' 8\" Vase, in Red \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel\u003c\/strong\u003e #\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e40020, Released in 1986\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesigner\u003c\/strong\u003e Ulrica Hydman-Vallien\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e 20cm (8\") tall (vase), 5cm (2\") tall (stand)\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent condition, with no wear to mention. Comes with its original black stand, original packaging and leaflets. Signed on the base.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kosta Boda","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43642634305703,"sku":null,"price":0.87,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0405\/5839\/5559\/files\/temp_98130c92-95a5-4fcf-bfc6-db9c8a3bb236.jpg?v=1742192713"}],"url":"https:\/\/thatretropiece.com\/collections\/kosta-boda.oembed","provider":"That Retro Piece","version":"1.0","type":"link"}