Description
There is something quietly spectacular about this 1970s art glass vase from Kosta Boda. Designed by Bertil Vallien and hand blown in thick crystal, its deep smoky-black body is filled with dense white bubble inclusions that seem to drift through the glass like a snowstorm caught in amber. It is the kind of piece that draws the eye from across a room — sculptural, atmospheric, and entirely its own.
The softly rounded cylindrical form is deceptively simple. Hold it to the light and the bubbles come alive, creating an almost lunar quality — a depth of texture that no photograph quite captures. It stands confidently on a shelf or table without flowers, because it needs nothing else.
Details & Specifications
- Maker: Kosta Boda, Sweden | Kosta Boda on Wikidata
- Designer: Bertil Vallien | Bertil Vallien on Wikidata
- Era: 1970s
- Material: Hand blown art glass
- Colour: Smoky black / charcoal with white bubble inclusions
- Markings: Original Kosta label and signed to base
- Dimensions: H 13.5 cm (5.3″), W 8.5 cm (3.3″)
Condition Report
- Lovely vintage condition throughout
- No chips or cracks
- A few small production marks and minor manufacturing irregularities consistent with hand blown Scandinavian art glass of the period
Why It Endures
Bertil Vallien’s bubble glass work from this period sits at the intersection of industrial craft and pure artistic instinct. The technique — trapping air within molten glass to create texture and depth — demands both skill and patience, and the results feel timeless rather than dated. This is a piece that belongs as naturally in a contemporary interior as it does in a dedicated Scandinavian glass collection.
Carefully packed and shipped with full tracking from Sweden. Combined shipping is available, with any overages refunded where possible. US buyers: DDP shipping is available — all customs tariffs and handling fees are included in the shipping price at checkout. No surprise charges on delivery.
