Nils Landberg vase

This rare and large glass vase, designed by Nils Landberg and produced by Orrefors in Sweden in 1963, exemplifies the refined clarity and optical sophistication for which Swedish mid-century glassmaking is celebrated. The piece is signed “Orrefors expo -63 Landberg,” indicating its creation for a special exhibition—likely part of Orrefors’ broader international showcase efforts during a period when Swedish design was gaining significant global recognition.

Executed in thick, color-cased glass, the vase features a deep cobalt blue core encased in a dense outer layer of clear crystal. The rich, saturated inner color and the heavy optical casing create a lensing effect, where the interior volume appears to shift in gradient and density depending on the angle of view. The form itself is subtly asymmetrical with an organic vertical taper, and the top rim is softly undulating rather than flat-cut—enhancing the vessel’s sculptural presence.

The clarity and balance of the design reflect Landberg’s distinctive approach to glass: his interest lay not only in form, but in how light moved through and interacted with volume. The contrast between the solidity of the base and the fluidity of the rim reflects an internal tension between structure and movement, a recurring quality in Landberg’s more sculptural works.

Nils Landberg (1907–1991) was a senior designer at Orrefors from the late 1930s to the 1970s. He is particularly known for the “Tulpanvas” series—delicate, thin-walled tulip-shaped vases—and for his role in developing highly optical forms that emphasized the transparency and refraction properties of Swedish crystal. Landberg’s work consistently combined precision in proportion with an understated yet powerful aesthetic sensibility. Pieces such as this one, created for exhibitions, reflect his more experimental and monumental tendencies, in contrast to his production-oriented designs.

Orrefors, established in 1898, became one of the most important art glass manufacturers in Europe during the 20th century. Under designers like Landberg, Vicke Lindstrand, and Edvin Öhrström, the company developed techniques such as Graal, Ariel, and Kraka—each focusing on the manipulation of color, light, and embedded design. While this vase is more restrained than those decorated with complex internal patterns, its optical intensity and formal resolution place it firmly within that lineage of innovation.

The condition of the vase is excellent. It shows only minor shelf wear to the base, consistent with age, and retains a clean surface free of chips, cracks, or clouding. The signature remains sharp and legible, underscoring the piece’s documented provenance.

The vase measures 18 cm in width, 9 cm in depth, and 38 cm in height (approximately 7.1 × 3.5 × 15 inches). As both a technical and artistic object, it demonstrates Landberg’s mastery of optical form and is a rare example of exhibition-quality Scandinavian glass from the postwar period.