ENGRAVED VASE (CRYSTAL) H272

This piece features engravings carved into thick crystal glass.
Unlike traditional engraving, which involves superficial and delicate decoration created by rotating a copper disk, Erik Höglund primarily used a grinding wheel to create deep, rough decorative expressions.
By deeply grinding and carving, steps are created on the surface, making the motifs appear more sculptural.
Furthermore, Höglund's engraved works were carved directly onto the glass surface by his own hand, without first drawing the motifs on paper.
This is a work that strongly reflects the thinking of Erik Höglund as a sculptor, having studied sculpture in his student days.
(It is said that in later years, artisans performed the carvings based on his instructions.)

This model was designed around 1956.
It depicts three charming animals, and the flag-like decorations at the top and bottom suggest that a circus might be the motif.
The cut signature is 'Boda H272/1157'.
*The entire piece has a faint haze.
*Our shop issues certificates of authenticity based on our accumulated experience.

ERIK HÖGLUND｜1932-1998｜SWEDEN
Erik Höglund is a leading Swedish artist and designer.
After studying sculpture at Konstfack in Stockholm, he began his career as a designer at BODA in 1953 and was actively involved with the company for approximately 20 years.

Inspired by various traditions and indigenous cultures, he pursued forms that exuded warmth, actively incorporating bubbles and distortions not as flaws but as part of the expression.
His unique worldview, which elevated the primitive to the modern, brought new possibilities for expression to glass art.
While his unconventional style initially sparked controversy, his unwavering passion for creation and tireless efforts built trust.

In 1957, he received the prestigious Lunning Prize, the most authoritative award in Nordic design, proving that his expression was "one of Nordic design."
At 25, he was also the youngest recipient among the distinguished 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 career as a designer, transforming him from an "iconoclast" to a "darling of the times."

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

The artist in the glass factory featured 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.