Orrefors Lindstrand Saint Francis 1938 Engraved Vase

Designed by Vicke (Victor Emanuel) Lindstrand in 1934, and copper-wheel engraved in 1939, this handblown glass vase was on the cutting edge of a new design movement in Sweden in the early 20th century. In place of the traditional filagree and flourishes that filled engraved glass from earlier artists, Lindstrand employed powerful central figures, filling the vase with human and animal subjects. This is among his earliest designs, and after eighty years, the story it tells shines through without a scratch.

Vicke Lindstrand (1904-1983) was born in Goteborg, Sweden, and started his career with Orrefors in 1928, where he remained until 1940. He pioneered daring art glass designs at Orrefors, and when he left, he was under an agreement not to work in glass for a decade. Between 1943 and 1950 he became creative leader at Uppsala Ekeby Ceramics. In 1950 he joined Kosta Glasbruk as an artistic director. He was the dominant designer until his retirement in 1973, lending his name to many now classic designs. As a glass designer, textile and ceramic designer, and painter, he is considered a pioneer of Swedish art. (He is also my favorite Swedish artist, and the one whose work I collect most.)

This beautiful vase is significant in size, nearly 8 inches tall and 6 inches across, and it weighs more than 3 pounds. The style code 1352 tells me it was designed in 1934, and it appears in Orrefors Catalog 9. The production date code A4 means that this particular vase was made in 1938.
I hope this vase finds a new home with someone who can appreciate its timeless poignancy and its rich history. If you have questions I haven't answered, please ask.