Manufacturer · Sweden · Småland · est. 1742
Kosta Glasbruk
Kosta Glasbruk – Swedish glassworks founded in 1742 in Småland by Anders Koskull and Georg Bogislaus Staël von Holstein; Kosta Boda from 1976.
About the manufacturer
- Years active
- est. 1742
- Country
- Sweden
- Location
- Småland
- Designers
- Vicke Lindstrand
The Kosta glassworks was founded in 1742 by Anders Koskull and Georg Bogislaus Staël von Holstein; the furnaces were fired up on 26 July 1742. The works are located in Småland, a region known as Glasriket (“Kingdom of Glass”).
In 1898, the glassworks hired its first permanent designer, Gunnar G:son Wennerberg, and in 1935 its first female designer, Tyra Lundgren. From the late 1920s until 1950, the artistic director was Elis Bergh, followed by Vicke Lindstrand from 1950 to 1973, the designer of, among other works, the “Träd i dimma” vase (1953). At Lindstrand’s request, Bruno Mathsson designed the Kosta Glashus building, which was placed under heritage protection in 2007. Others associated with the glassworks included Erik Höglund, Mona Morales-Schildt, Ann and Göran Wärff (from 1964), Bertil Vallien and Ulrica Hydman Vallien.
In 1964, Kosta began working with the Boda and Åfors glassworks; in 1974, they were merged into Åforsgruppen, and from 1976 to 1990 the company operated as Kosta Boda AB. In 1990, it was acquired by Orrefors, and since 2005 the brand has belonged to New Wave Group. The later history of the brand is described in the Kosta Boda profile.
