ENGRAVED VASE (CRYSTAL) H1184

A work in thick crystal glass, sculpted using the engraving technique.
While traditional engraving was a superficial and delicate decoration created by rotating a copper disc, Erik Höglund mainly used grindstones to create deep and rough decorative expressions.
By deeply polishing and carving, steps are created on the surface, and the motif is expressed more sculpturally.
Furthermore, engraving works were not drawn on paper beforehand; instead, they were drawn directly onto the glass surface and carved by his own hand.
This work strongly reflects the thinking of Erik Höglund as a sculptor, who studied sculpture during his student days.
(In later years, it is said that craftsmen performed the carving based on his instructions.)

This model was designed in the early 1960s.
It depicts four men and women dancing, seemingly inspired by an opera scene.
The cut signature is "Boda H1184 1282".
*In good condition with no noticeable damage.
*Our shop issues certificates of authenticity based on our extensive experience.

ERIK HÖGLUND｜1932-1998｜SWEDEN
Erik Höglund was a leading artist and designer from Sweden.
After studying sculpture at Konstfack in Stockholm, he began his career as a designer at BODA in 1953 and worked there energetically for approximately 20 years.

Inspired by various traditions and indigenous cultures, he actively incorporated bubbles and distortions not as flaws but as part of his expression, pursuing forms that convey a handmade warmth.
His unique world view, which elevated the primitive to the modern, brought new possibilities for expression to glass art.
His unconventional style initially caused controversy, but he built trust through his unwavering passion for creation and tireless efforts.

In 1957, he received the Lunning Prize, the most prestigious award in Nordic design, proving that his expression was "one of Nordic design."
His win at the age of 25 also made him the youngest recipient among a distinguished list of past winners, including Hans J. Wegner, Tapio Wirkkala, Kaj Franck, and Timo Sarpaneva.
In the same year, he won a silver medal at the Milan Triennale, solidifying his international reputation and marking a turning point in his design career as he rapidly transitioned from an "outsider" to "the darling of the era."

His activities were not limited to glass; from the early 1960s, he created works combining wrought iron and glass, as well as woodcrafts.
In 1968, he established the design company "Backström & Höglund AB" with Monica Backström, also a designer at Boda and his partner at the time, and worked on a wide range of designs including furniture and household goods.
Throughout his life, he created paintings and bronze works, and was involved in commissioned works such as church murals, furnishings, interior design, and public monuments, expanding his creative activities into various fields.

The artist in the glass factory who appears in the film "Mitt liv som hund (My Life as a Dog)" by Swedish master director Lasse Hallström is modeled after Erik Höglund, and the film depicts him before he gained recognition.