Glasscraft since 1742

The Kosta Glassworks has shaped Sweden and Småland since the 18th century. Over the centuries, the glassworks has played an important role both artistically and industrially. Naturally, its operations have also been influenced by societal developments; Kosta has been on the brink of collapse several times, but has managed to bounce back thanks to forward-thinking business leaders, creative artists, and skilled glassworkers.

A hat and free beer

Anders Koskull and Georg Bogislaus Staël von Holstein were granted the counties of Kronoberg and Kalmar, respectively, for their service in the wars fought for Charles XII. The two well-traveled gentlemen recognized the need for window glass in chilly Sweden, acquired the rights to the village of Dåvedshult, and built a glassworks. The place was named Kosta after the first syllables of the surnames Koskull and Staël.

On July 26, 1742, the furnaces were fired up for the first time. The factory produced window glass and utility glass for a primarily local market in Småland and Skåne. The glassblowers came from Germany. To encourage them to stay in Sweden, they were offered privileges—for example, they were allowed to wear hats and own a dog, rights that had previously been reserved for the nobility. They were also entitled to free beer at work. The German masters guarded their trade secrets closely, but toward the end of the 18th century, a few unskilled Swedish workers happened to gain access to the glassblowing process. This laid the foundation for a Swedish guild of skilled glassblowers.

The Forest Saved the Glass

With the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, conditions changed; many new glassworks were established, and competition intensified. Kosta was on the brink of ruin. The forest came to the rescue: by selling timber, the company raised capital that was used to modernize the glassworks. In 1888, a narrow-gauge railroad was opened that connected to the railroad network in Lessebo; this proved crucial to Kosta’s ability to distribute its products. External influences grew, and an emerging middle class wanted glassware for their dinner tables. This created opportunities to hire experts in cutting and engraving as well.

Chose an exclusive path

Toward the end of the 19th century, talented young artists were commissioned to raise Kosta’s profile. Even at this early stage, Kosta chose to focus on more exclusive glassware to set itself apart from competitors across Europe. By then, both domestic and international markets had been established. Kosta Glassworks was a modern industry where roughly half of its production was exported to Europe, the United States, Asia, and South America. Swedish glass was experiencing a golden age. The glassworks had long been the domain of young men, but by this time a certain degree of equality was beginning to emerge, and the power of the labor unions was growing. The glassworks often enforced a strict personnel policy, and many artisans resigned following disputes over wages and working conditions. The company’s attitude softened over time, and by the time World War II broke out, the atmosphere had shifted toward a more constructive dialogue. One effect of the war was that exports ceased. The factory survived by switching to the production of jam jars and storage containers for the Swedish market.

During the 1950s, global purchasing power increased, and consumption of both everyday and luxury products rose. Designers’ contributions to the glass industry became more important than ever. Competition from rebuilt glassworks abroad intensified, and a new material made its debut on the world market—plastic. In the 1960s, the phrase “disposable” came to illustrate the new consumer behavior: buying cheaply, throwing things away when they were worn out, and buying new ones again. This had major consequences for the glass industry. High-quality, long-lasting goods were rejected in favor of lower-quality products.

The Crazy '60s

Ideological and political unrest prevailed during the 1960s, as young people rebelled against conventions and norms. This was also true within the glass industry. Designers from this rebellious generation experimented with new forms in glassmaking. Erik Rosén became CEO of Kosta in 1964. This marked a major artistic shift; Rosén showed patience and gave his designers considerable creative freedom. A new tradition began, with artists settling in the Kingdom of Glass. Erik Höglund at the Boda Glassworks became the central figure in a dynamic and creative group, featuring young, innovative talents such as Bertil Vallien, Ann and Göran Wärff, Monica Backström, and Ulrica Hydman-Vallien. In Boda, they broke with everything considered “refined.”

In 1976, Kosta and Boda merged, bringing color and playfulness to the more classically oriented Kosta. Tableware and art glass garnered international attention and sold well during the yuppie boom of the 1980s. In the early 1990s, there were 16 glassworks in the Kingdom of Glass, and the decade can be regarded as a second golden age for Swedish glass. Toward the end of the 1990s, times became more difficult; glass was no longer in vogue. In 2005, the New Wave Group, led by its principal owner and founder Torsten Jansson, became the new owner. A few years later, a global economic crisis erupted, which also had repercussions for Kosta, where a number of employees had to be laid off.

From Window Glass to the One Million Dollar Boat

Today, Kosta has set out on the path toward the future by remaining open to external influences and welcoming innovative designers who are once again breaking with convention. Bertil Vallien, Kjell Engman, and Göran Wärff now represent the established tradition. Their legacy is evident in Kosta’s new products, where young designers such as Sara Persson, Frida Fjellman, and Hanna Hansdotter find their creative expression, rooted in 1970s design.

History repeats itself, though in a new way, and artisanal glass continues to evolve. The Kosta Glassworks has an unbroken tradition of handcrafted production dating back to 1742, and the furnace still burns brightly. The glassworks has survived fires, strikes, world wars, global economic crises, and threats of closure—thanks to creative artists, skilled artisans, and responsible corporate leadership, and thanks to its ability to reinvent itself. Kosta Glassworks is a living part of Sweden’s cultural heritage.