Operating out of Kronoberg County, Sweden, Åseda Glasbruk was a mid-century glass factory that produced highly sought-after decorative wares between 1947 and 1977. While some Swedish factories boasted histories spanning centuries, Åseda’s relatively brief, thirty-year operational window aligned with the peak of the global mid-century modern movement. Toward the end of its run, the factory was incorporated into the Royal Krona group in 1975, although the umbrella company unfortunately went into liquidation just two years later.

Bo Borgström became a defining designer for Åseda in the early 1960s. His work brought a sculptural approach to useful and decorative glass, ranging from colourful blown vessels to more geometric and textured forms. Museum collections record examples carrying both Åseda and Royal Krona labels, helping connect individual designs with the factory’s later production.

Under Borgström's creative direction, Åseda produced the vibrant, iconic shapes that collectors seek out today. He is known for designing their heavily textured 'Bamboo' vases, the delicate 'Jack in the Pulpit' (or Bone) vases, and modern geometric pieces that featured heavy, clear glass bases with single, entrapped bubbles.

Surviving catalogues are valuable when identifying Åseda glass. The 1975–77 catalogue documents the Royal Krona period, while museum records provide named examples of Borgström’s work. Matching a shape with those records is more reliable than assuming that a familiar colour, clear base or trapped bubble identifies the factory on its own.

Read more about Åseda’s history and recorded designs here.

Read more in the surviving 1975–77 Åseda catalogue here.