A rare find. A work of art by Bertil Vallien, one of the last living masters of 20th century Scandinavian design.
This crystal Boat sculpture, featuring red metallic decoration, comes from the limited edition Diver series of only 1,000 pieces. Handmade and signed by the artist.
Every piece in the series differed slightly because each was made by hand. No two sculptures are exactly alike.
Designer
Bertil Vallien has worked for around 40 years at Kosta Boda, Sweden’s best known art glassworks and a flagship of Swedish glassmaking. Today, he is Kosta Boda’s principal designer.
In 1978, Vallien was inspired by the traditional boats of western Ireland and began creating boat sculptures in glass. These works carry a profound symbolic meaning. Vallien himself describes them as Boats of Life: they give us support when there is no solid ground beneath us, carrying us along the current of life itself.
Boat Sculpture
The Boats became Vallien’s best known and most successful body of work. Some were made as regular production pieces, while this example is a limited edition collector’s work, individually handmade and unique.
The Boat is also unmistakably Scandinavian. For centuries, Scandinavians and Vikings sailed into the dangerous northern seas, explored unknown territories and discovered new lands.
Detail
Excellent vintage condition. Complete with its original wooden stand.
Catalogue number: 7171022
Boat length: 18 cm
Height with stand: 8 cm
