DesignerSwedish
Vicke Lindstrand
26 active items
Vicke Lindstrand co-invented one of the most beautiful techniques in the history of glass. The Ariel process, developed at Orrefors in 1936 with Edvin Öhrström and the glassblower Knut Bergqvist, involves engraving patterns into the interior of a glass form, then reheating and blowing the piece to its final dimensions. Trapped air fills the engraved channels, creating silvery, shimmering bubbles suspended within the glass, an ethereal effect named after the spirit of wind in Shakespeare's "The Tempest." It was a technique born partly from accident (the designers noticed beauty in what should have been production flaws) and partly from the systematic experimentation that defined Lindstrand's entire career.
Born Viktor Emanuel Lindstrand on 27 November 1904 in Gothenburg, he trained in commercial illustration before turning to glass design. He joined Orrefors in 1928, making his debut at the 1930 Stockholm World Fair with twelve enamel-decorated vases in bold, forward-looking patterns. Over fifteen years at Orrefors, he mastered Ariel, Graal (layered coloured glass with engraved designs), and traditional engraving, creating masterworks including the "Pärlfiskare" (Pearl Fisher) vase, an engraved and optically blown piece depicting two divers and rising air bubbles in muscular, classical figuration. His designs appeared in the art competitions at both the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics.
When wartime pressures forced Orrefors to reduce its roster, Lindstrand moved to Uppsala Ekeby (1943-1950), where he served as creative leader and proved his versatility across stoneware, from utilitarian vessels to ambitious figurative sculptures. In 1950, he joined Kosta Glasbruk as artistic director, a position he held until retirement in 1973. At Kosta, a remarkable evolution occurred: Lindstrand progressively introduced more colour into his work, moving from the cool austerity of his Orrefors engravings toward warm, expressive compositions. Works like "Trees in the Fog" and "Autumn" combined abstract and representational imagery with rich, layered colour, establishing him as a master colourist in glass. He died on 7 May 1983 in Kosta.
Lindstrand's work is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Orrefors Museum.
On Auctionist, 587 Lindstrand lots are recorded, dominated by glass (421 items) with a significant ceramics presence (99). Formstad Auktioner, Karlstad Hammarö, and Stadsauktion Sundsvall handle the largest volumes. His engraved "Pärlfiskare" vase reached 42,432 SEK, with unique art glass pieces trading above 30,000 SEK and production pieces broadly accessible. For collectors, Lindstrand bridges Orrefors and Kosta, two of the great names in Swedish glass, having shaped the identity of both.