Monica Backström sculpture

This is a rare, handcrafted sculptural glass object in the form of an egg, designed by Swedish artist Monica Backström and produced in Sweden during the 1950s. The piece is signed “Monica Backström Ateljé” on the underside, indicating its origin in a studio-based or limited production context, as opposed to large-scale factory manufacture.

The sculpture features an oviform outer body made of entirely clear glass, within which a dynamic composition of multicolored glass rods is suspended. The rods, which vary in hue—predominantly deep violet, rose, gold, and black—intersect and overlap in a loosely vertical arrangement, radiating inwards from the bottom and terminating at different angles throughout the internal volume. This composition is embedded within the mass of the glass, using a complex casing technique that demands precision in temperature control and glass manipulation.

The visual effect is one of kinetic stillness, where the linear elements appear frozen in motion, as if captured in the moment of expansion or implosion. Light refracts through the clear exterior, creating shifting reflections and magnifying the internal colors and textures, lending the object both aesthetic and optical interest.

Condition is good vintage, with minor surface signs of wear consistent with age and handling, such as superficial scratches at the base. There are no visible chips, cracks, or restoration, and the clarity of the glass is well preserved.

Monica Backström (b. 1939) is a noted Swedish glass artist associated with experimental and expressive glasswork throughout the mid to late 20th century. Her work is often distinguished by its sculptural quality, material innovation, and strong color sensibility. While she is known for her work at Boda Glassworks, this studio piece predates or runs parallel to her early career and may represent a unique or small-run creation from her artistic development phase.

The dimensions of the sculpture are 24 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height, which corresponds to approximately 9.4 inches in diameter and 11.8 inches in height.