Designer Desire: Vicke Lindstrand

Montage of Vicke Lindstrand designs

Vicke (Viktor) Lindstrand (1904-1983) was a prominent 20th century Swedish glass artist, illustrator, textile artist and ceramic designer.

Vicke Lindstrand worked as a designer at Orrefors from 1928 until 1941 during which time his work was exhibited at the Stockholmsutställningen and Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne. His iconic Mingus martini pitcher from 1934, is still produced by the company to this day.

Lindstrand became artistic director at Upsala-Ekeby from 1942-50, after which he left to go to Kosta in the same capacity until 1973.

As well as studio glass and ceramics, Lindstrand created a number of monumental public artworks (two of which can be seen in our montage, above) including Grön eld in Umeå (1970), Prisma in Norrköping (1973) and Legend i Glas in Växjö (1978).

Vicke Lindstrand on the Periphery. Mid-Twentieth Century Swedish Design and the Reception of Vicke Lindstrand by Mark Ian Jones was published in 2016. Copies are currently available from Biblio and Book Depository.

Find original examples of his work at auction and for sale on online outlets such as 1st Dibs and Etsy.

Portrait of Vicke Lindstrandcredit

Additional image credits:
1st Dibs | Bukowskis

Auction alert: Decades Of Glass – 18th-21st Century

Jan Gabrhel for Chlum u Trebone - Four Garnet glass vases

This week, we’re bringing to your attention to the Decades Of Glass – 18th-21st Century sale at Opus Auctions in Sunningdale, Berkshire taking place on 28th October 2021, from 11am. There are a total of 247 lots, however, we’ve concentrated on some of the mid 20th century examples. There’s something for everyone going under the hammer; estimates range from £20 – £40 to £8,000 – £10,000 (the latter being the Stanislav Libensky vase featured at the bottom of this post).

When buying with Opus Auctioneers a premium of 22% + VAT of the hammer price is applied to your invoice. If you choose to use an online bidding service there will be an additional charge for using this service. Please consult the relevant bidding system for additional charges as these may vary. We recommend EasyLive Auctions £3 flat fee bidding service.

Whitefriars - an aqua colour coffin vase

Lot 142: Whitefriars – an aqua colour coffin vase
9686, 12.5cm high
Estimate: £60 – £80

Isle of Wight - a tortoiseshell glass stoppered squat vase

Lot 165: Isle of Wight – a tortoiseshell glass stoppered squat vase
Hand engraved Michael Harris Isle of Wight to underside of base, 14cm high approx (2)
Estimate: £100 – £150

Mandruzzato Sommerso glass bowl

Lot 188: A large Mandruzzato Sommerso glass bowl
Facetted square section, the colours of bright Emerald green and olive glass, Italian, Mid Century, 20.5cm max diam x 13cm high
Estimate: £60 – £80

Holmegaard - 12 Canada shape glasses

Lot 195: Holmegaard – 12 Canada shape glasses
Smoke colour, in two sizes, the larger size in original box, 16cm and 13.5cm approx (13)
Estimate: £130 – £150

Per Lutkin /Christer Holmgren for Holmegaard green glass vase

Lot 201: Per Lutkin /Christer Holmgren for Holmegaard
A Majgrøn / May Green glass bottle vase, engraved Holmgaard and C 17795, Denmark, Mid Century, 16cm high approx
Estimate: £50 – £70

Jaroslav Svoboda - a glass cylinder vase

Lot 213: Jaroslav Svoboda – a glass cylinder vase
Colourless applied with with amber and blue pad spots, two original paper labels, c1972, PN 7233/32, 33 cm approx
Estimate: £200 – £300

Bohumil Elias - a bulb form glass vase

Lot 216: Bohumil Elias – a bulb form glass vase
Decorated with vertical iridescent stripes of silver grey, unmarked, old collections labels affixed to base, 18cm high
Estimate: £150 – £250

Vladimir Jelinek - a Unica amber glass 'pebble'

Lot 228: Vladimir Jelinek – a Unica amber glass ‘pebble’
With bubble inclusions and a lightly textured surface, 24cm max
Estimate: £650 – £750

Pavel Hlava for Exbor, an angular Galaxy vase

Lot 236: Pavel Hlava for Exbor, an angular Galaxy vase
Mid 20th Century, acid cut Exbor mark to base, 14cm high
Estimate: £180 – £220

Jan Gabrhel for Chlum u Trebone - Four Garnet glass vases

Lot 240: Jan Gabrhel for Chlum u Trebone – Four Garnet glass vases
Each graduating from red to yellow glass, 34.5cm high and smaller (4)
Estimate: £100 – £150

Stanislav Libensky - a 1001 Nights enamelled glass vase

Lot 247: Stanislav Libensky – a 1001 Nights enamelled glass vase
Decorated at the Specialised School of Glassmaking, the acid etched design brightly enamelled in polychrome colours with fabulous beasts in and on trees, Novy Bor, c1946, 23.2cm high ** See
Petrova & Olivier; Bohemian Glass
D. Klein, Masters of Czech glass: 1945-1965, exhibition catalogue Dan Klein Limited, London, 1983, cat. 38 for notes on this artist and this group of glasswares and the Victoria & Albert Museum accession number C.104-1984 for an example from this group of designs.
Estimate: £8,000 – £10,000

Designer Desire: Tapio Wirkkala

Montage of Tapio Wirkkala designs

Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a Finnish multidisciplinary designer; he created an abundance of objects in metal, glass, wood and ceramics. His output ranged from jewellery to furniture, barware to serveware and lighting to sculpture. His designs can even be found on the country’s money, having won the Bank of Finland’s banknote competition in 1947.

After serving in the Finnish Army during WWII, Tapio Wirkkala went to work for glassware firm, Iittala; a working relationship that would last the rest of his life. I especially like his organic, hand-blown Kantarelli (Finnish for ‘chanterelle mushroom’) vases. From the mid-1960s he designed glassware for Italian firm, Venini, based in Murano.

He created ceramics for companies including Rosenthal for whom he produced the Pollo vase and the Composition Secunda Grey, Variation and Eisblume series.

Because of his prolific output and lengthy career, his vintage designs are pretty easy to come by – albeit not always cheaply. Explore sites such as Etsy, Pamono and Vinterior.

Some of his ranges such as the Tapio drinking glasses for Iittala and Bolle bottle vases (shown at top) for Venini are still in production today.

Portrait of Tapio Wirkkalacredit

Additional image credits:
1stDibs | Bukowskis

Designer Desire: Nanny Still

Montage of Nanny Still glass designs

Nanny Still (1926-2009) was a mid-century Finnish glass designer. She’s also known by her married name, Nanny Still-McKinney.

She designed for Riihimäki for approaching 3 decades; from her graduation from the University of Art and Design, Helsinki in 1947 until the 1970s. Some of her ranges include Polaris, Neptuna, Harlekiini (Harlequin), Fantasma, Majakka (Lighthouse) and Pajazzo.

In 1972, she was presented with the Pro Finlandia Medal for Meritorious Artists of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

In 1959, she and her husband moved to Belgium; whilst living there, she created designs for Rosenthal from 1977. Some of the Studio Linie series that she produced for them include Arabesk, Taiga and my favourite – Blütenregen – which roughly translates as ‘blossom shower’.

You can readily acquire examples of her glassware on eBay and Etsy and Tradera.

There’s a 1995 catalogue available entitled, Nanny Still, 45 Years of Design from an exhibition held at both Riihimäki Lasimuseo and the Glass Museum of Charleroi in Belgium.

Portrait of Nanny Still holding one of her Polaris bottlescredit

Additional image credits:
Bukowskis