Värends Konstglas Weidlich Woman in a Rose Patch Engraved Swedish Crystal Vase

Swedish artist Emil Weidlich, 1895-1986, designed and likely engraved this vintage Swedish crystal vase. The motif may be a scene from the Sleeping Beauty story, with Briar Rose entangled in the thorny roses awaiting a prince to come save her. The vase is 7 inches tall and 9 inches across, and it weighs 6 pounds. The woman's sheer dress flows in soft pleats around her, as she kneels with outstretched arms. It is a typical Weidlich motif; he was highly influenced by the Art Deco movement. His mentor, Simon Gate, taught him the value and the timelessness of a nude, or nearly-nude, body. Careful treatment of the musculature, all created by pressing the glass against spinning copper wheels, is another Weidlich hallmark.

Emil Weidlich was educated as a glass "carver" at the Steinschönau Glass School (Kamenický Šenov), founded in the 16th century in the current Czech Republic. He was recruited by the pioneering Swedish designer, Simon Gate, in 1922, to work at the Orrefors glass mill. There he worked closely with Gate for almost a decade. In 1931 he joined Elme Glasbruk as a leader of an engraving workshop and remained there until 1942. He executed his own engravings on his own models, but also engravings of former designers, such as Edvin Ollers. In 1942, he started his own company, Värends Konstglas, at which he worked until the age of 85. The business was located in Älmhult, Sweden (home to the first IKEA store!).

The base is signed only "Julen 1965" or "Christmas 1965".