Overview
This sculptural glass egg was designed by Monica Backström, one of the central figures of Swedish art glass in the second half of the 20th century. Executed in a substantial large scale, the piece explores the egg form as a closed volume: quiet, concentrated and deliberately non-narrative.
Color & Surface
The glass is composed around a pale, milky pink base tone with a softly clouded interior. Embedded throughout the body are irregular white inclusions that read visually as pearlescent rather than opaque, appearing to float within the glass rather than sit on the surface. Subtle accents of warm blush, faint coral, and muted honey tones emerge beneath the surface, shifting with changes in light and viewing angle. Fine dark specks add depth and prevent the color field from becoming uniform, giving the object a mineral, almost geological character.
The overall effect is restrained but complex: the colors do not contrast sharply, instead blending into a calm, layered whole that rewards close viewing.
Form & Technique
The egg shape is fully rounded and carefully balanced, tapering gently toward the top and grounded by a polished flat base. The glass mass is dense and evenly distributed, emphasizing weight and solidity rather than transparency. The technique allows inclusions and color fragments to appear suspended at different depths, creating a sense of internal space despite the closed form.
Each example from this series differs subtly, as the internal distribution of color and inclusions is determined during the hot-working process.
Designer Context
Monica Backström worked for over four decades at Kosta Boda, where she developed a distinctive sculptural language that moved beyond traditional functional glass.
Her pieces are held in major international museum collections, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Corning Museum of Glass in the United States, and numerous design and art museums across Europe. In addition to her studio work, Backström was active in design education and public art projects throughout Sweden.
Measurements & Weight
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Height: approx. 19 cm
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Weight: approx. 0.8 kg
Condition
Very good vintage condition. No cracks or structural damage. Minor surface traces consistent with careful handling and age, visible only on close inspection.
Notes for Collectors
This large-scale egg represents Backström’s mature approach to sculptural glass: calm in expression, technically controlled, and materially rich. It functions equally well as a standalone sculptural object or as part of a grouped installation, where differences in color and scale become more apparent.
