Monica Backström sculpture

This is a rare sculptural art glass object in the form of an ovoid or egg, executed in clear glass and internally threaded with fine steel wire filaments. Designed by Swedish artist Monica Backström and signed “Monica Backström Ateljé,” the piece originates from Sweden and dates to the 1950s. It reflects a key moment in post-war Scandinavian studio glass when technical experimentation and organic form converged in handcrafted expression.

The sculpture is blown in thick-walled transparent glass, with embedded steel wires tracing erratic, overlapping arcs throughout the interior. These internal wires are sealed within the body of the glass, creating an illusion of suspended motion and offering a striking contrast between the linear rigidity of the metal and the fluid, amorphous nature of the glass envelope. The form is slightly asymmetrical, enhancing its hand-shaped quality and underscoring its identity as a studio work. The base is slightly recessed and ground flat, with visible pontil marks and internal bubbles, consistent with artisanal glassmaking processes. The signature is etched along the base rim.

The condition is good vintage, with minor surface scratches and slight signs of handling or shelf wear, particularly near the base, but no structural cracks or losses. The glass retains its clarity and brilliance, and the embedded wirework is complete and stable.

Monica Backström, born in 1939, is one of Sweden’s most notable postwar glass artists. Known for her highly individualistic and exploratory approach, she worked extensively at Kosta Boda and in independent ateliers. Her oeuvre spans utilitarian design, experimental objects, and limited-edition sculptural forms. This piece reflects her early atelier phase, marked by a strong emphasis on conceptual transparency and internal structure.

This object belongs to the Scandinavian modernist tradition, yet it steps beyond pure functionalism into the realm of sculptural abstraction, bridging decorative art and design. It functions as a visual study in material contrast and spatial complexity, echoing the biomorphic and kinetic sensibilities found in mid-century Scandinavian craft.

The dimensions are approximately 24 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height, corresponding to 9.4 inches in diameter and 11.8 inches in height.