2024.03.15
Revival of the kingdom of crystal
REVIVAL OF THE
KINGDOM OF CRYSTAL
ART & CRAFT
Renässans vase by Simon Klenell
Fifty years ago there were more than 50 glassworks in the region Småland, aptly labelled the “Swedish Kingdom of Crystal”. The rich heritage stems back to the 18th century and created a thriving industry beyond the Swedish boarders. Today there are only a few of the old glassworks left, but the industry is seeing a revival of a new generation of glass designers combining old traditions with new techniques and exciting forms. Creating a dramatic, yet subtle backdrop inspired by 19th century still life imagery, stylist Sophia Bratt and photographer Kristofer Johnsson pay hommage to the long Swedish tradition in a still-life exclusively produced for The New Era.
WORDS
PHOTOGRAPHY
STYLING
Jonna Dagliden Hunt
Kristofer Johnsson
Sophia Bratt
The viva glass series is designed by Matti Klenell for glassworks Kosta Boda. The inspiration stems from old manufacturing traditions as well as Klenell’s own background. “The collaboration with Kosta Boda has meant a rediscovery of my roots. As a child, i lived for a time in the Småland glass kingdom when my parents studied at the glass school in Orrefors. Memories, people, scents and colours have been etched from then on and have come to have a great significance for me becoming who I became,”Klenell says. Right: light holder Fris by Carina Seth Andersson.
One of the works on show is Renässans by designer and glass blower Simon Klenell, a series where he has experimented with a traditional crystal cutting technique often associated with Orrefors. when the renowned glassworks closed down in 2011, an epoque in Swedish glass ended.
”The collaboration with Kosta Boda has meant a rediscovery of my roots. As a child, i lived for a time in the Småland glass kingdom when my parents studied at the glass school in Orrefors. Memories, people, scents and colours have been etched from then on and have come to have a great significance for me becoming who I became”
The still life also includes work by Carina Seth Andersson; her vase Pollo is hand blown at Skrufs glassworks and designed from her studio in Gustavsberg. The wine glass in the series Viva, designed by Matti Klenell for glassworks Kosta Boda, is machine made but the inspiration stems from old manufacturing traditions lending a characteristic detail on the glass stem.
Inspired by handicraft, the Tälja Järn glass by Erik Nyström is a delicate and detailed, hand blown at Skrufs glassworks. ”When I worked out the shape of the glass I was carving in bits of wood and beautiful patterns and structures emerged,” he says. ”I wanted to show these structures and I also wanted them to be felt whilst held in the hand.” It is available from nattetid.com
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