Ekenäs Swedish Engraved Crystal Vase Naked Child and Butterfly, Perfect Gift

This small vase, likely designed by John Orwar Lake, depicts a naked child, sitting on the grass, watching a butterfly. The traditional copper-wheel engraving is skillfully done, including flowers at the bottom and stars at the top, circling around the vase. The scale of the butterfly to the child gives one a heightened sense of the wonder the child is experiencing in nature.

This piece was probably made in the in the late 1960's or early 1970's; while Lake was artistic director at Ekenäs. The vase is a perfect size for displaying on a shelf or in a cabinet. It is about 3.5" in diameter and 6" tall, and it weighs 1.5 pounds.

Ekenäs glass mill was founded in 1917. It was bought after a bankruptcy in 1922 by Sven Westberg (1883-1962), who held it until 1962. Thereafter, it was run by members of the Tell family, until it was sold in 1976. Greta Runeborg-Tell and John-Orwar Lake were artistic leaders at the glass mill from 1942-1952 and 1953-1976, respectively. Other designers were Edvin Ollers 1946-1947, Astrid Rietz in the 1940s, and Michael Bang from 1966-1988. [wikipedia]