
ManufacturerSwedish
SEA
0 active items
SEA Glasbruk was a Swedish glassworks founded in 1956 when Inge Samuelsson, Sven Ernstsson, and Tore Andersson purchased the Ekeberga glassworks, located just outside the town of Kosta in Småland. The company name is an acronym formed from the first letters of the three founders' surnames. Ekeberga itself had only been established in 1953, making SEA part of the postwar expansion of Sweden's glass industry in the Glasriket (Kingdom of Crystal) region.
Situated in the heartland of Swedish glassmaking, SEA Glasbruk produced both utilitarian and decorative glass. The factory became known for its cased glass techniques, in which layers of colored glass were encased within clear or contrasting glass to create depth and luminosity. Production ranged from everyday tableware to art glass objects, including vases, bowls, and sculptural forms. Inge Samuelsson, one of the co-founders, also served as a designer at the factory, contributing to its artistic direction.
The glassworks employed several notable designers over the decades. Göran Anneborg, Lena Engman, Björn Ramel, Renate Stock, Rune Strand, and Kjell Engman all contributed designs during the factory's active years. Their work often featured bold colors, organic forms, and textural surfaces characteristic of mid-century Scandinavian glass. Kjell Engman, who later became one of Kosta Boda's most prolific designers, produced art glass vases at SEA that are now collected in their own right.
SEA Glasbruk was eventually absorbed into the Orrefors Kosta Boda AB group, following the consolidation trend that brought many of Småland's smaller glassworks under larger corporate umbrellas during the late 20th century. The factory is no longer in independent operation.
On the auction market, SEA Glasbruk pieces appear frequently at Scandinavian auction houses and across Auctionet. Mid-century cased glass vases in vibrant colors are the most commonly traded items. Pieces by Rune Strand, particularly his sunburst-patterned vases, and Inge Samuelsson's Rocket vases from the 1960s attract collector interest. SEA glass is generally accessible in price, making it a popular entry point for collectors of Swedish studio glass.