Kosta Bergh Naked Man (Apollo) with Lyre 1942 Engraved Lead Crystal Vase

This spectacular vase depicts a lithe figure, standing naked with a lyre on the perfectly cut crystal. That figure is the Greek god Apollo, the god most commonly associated with the lyre. He is revered as the master of this instrument and serves as the patron of music and poetry. In this Art Deco-influenced engraving, he cuts a striking figure.
The vase is big and heavy, weighing almost 8 pounds and measuring about 9.5 inches tall and 6.5 inches across. It has marvelously planed sides, sharp edges, a crisp rim, and a heay base. It was engraved using the traditional copper-wheel method, one that requires incredible skill. The piece has the expected wear on its base, but overall it is in fantastic condition.

Between 1928 and 1950, Elis Bergh was the artistic leader of Kosta glass mill . After 1950 until his death in 1954 he appeared as a consultant to Kosta. He came to Kosta for an architectural assignment in which he was to design an interior at the mill. In 1928 he was called back to draw lighting fixtures, an area in which he considered was an authority. As an artistic director he stood for the graceful yet modern design that characterized Kosta's production during the interwar period.