Sweden
1980s
Glass
5 1/4″ wide x 4″ deep x 5 1/2″ high

Bertil Vallien (b. 1938) is a renowned glass artist and designer. He was born in Sollentuna, just north of Stockholm. He studied ceramics at the art school Konstfack before moving to Los Angeles in 1962 where he got a job at a small ceramic factory. Shortly after, he opened his own studio and split his time between the factory and his own practice. Here is where he met Erik Rosén, manager at Åfors glassworks. Vallien moved back to Sweden and began working at Åfors as a glassblower, where he honed his skills and began experimenting with glass painting and sandblasting techniques. In 1976, Åfors became Kosta Boda, and Vallien continued to produce new designs for their collections. In 2023, Vallien and Kosta Boda celebrated their 60 years of partnership.

This glass bottle is a wonderful example of Bertil Vallien’s mastery, with its iridescent-blue hue and textured surface.

Signed and numbered.