Topic: John Kall - Elme Sweden

[Max]

I saw a glass plaque absolutely ages ago on eBay, designed by John Kall. I remember trying to find out about it, and coming up with zero information on him.  I've recently borrowed a similar plaque to have a good look at, and still can't find much out about it.  Does anyone know of a book that covers Elme perhaps?

Thank you. 

[Della]

Hi Max 

In Bill Geary's book (which is really informative), Scandinavain Glass, Creative Energies, pg.72, there is a little information about Elme Glasbruk. John Kall (can't get the two dots over the 'a') was with them in the 60's. There is also a a list of other designers and a time-line for the history of the factory.

[Ivo]

You must have stumbled on the information contained in Bill Geary's book "Scandinavian Glass - Creative Energies" - and there is a page on Elme in 20th century factory glass.

Elme Glasbruk, founded 1917, closed 1970, located in Älmhult made both blown, engraved and pressed glass. Its heyday was the 1920s when Edvin Ollers designed for the company. There were several takeovers, and the company was revived by the Bogarp family in 1962, with designers Kjeld Jordan and John Käll - but the factory did not survive long enough to make much of an impact. Käll was not heard of again as far as I'm aware....

[Max]

Hi Della, nice to see you here, I've been wondering if you're ok.  

Thank you, I've got Bill's book, and I'd missed that information.  I'll have another go through it later on, in case there's something else I've missed - I do find that book a little hard to navigate - I think the trouble is, I dip in and out...maybe I should try reading cover to cover!  

I'm looking for photographic references to their work really...I'll keep trying.

Edit:  Thanks Ivo, I guessed Kall didn't figure much in glass history.  I wonder what became of him?  His plaques are really unique.   

[Ivo]

http://www.tradera.com/auction/Glas/aid_36594863
these do not fetch high prices, it seems
and so she is listing it again:
http://www.tradera.com/auction/aid_37136622


John Käll now writes historical and touristical info, about Älmhult in Skane

http://www.jamshog.net/yrken/saltpetersjudning.htm
and does drawings for a webside on black powder production


Mod: fixed scrolling link (sorry Ivo)

[Frank]

Plaque is great, you going for it Max?

   175 Swedish kronor = 19.325885 Euros

[Max]

Hey, thanks Ivo!  Maybe glass was just a departure for him then, a very talented man it seems and an artist.  I'd never have found those links by myself - how interesting!  It isn't often that I feel like contacting a glass designer, but I'd like to drop him a line and say how much I love the plaques..they really ding my bell!

That's exactly the same design as I have here on the Tradera auction, but the one here is a kind of antique yellow, and not blue.  The strange thing is (maybe I'm not reading it right?) is that the Tradera auction, when using the 'translate this page into English' button seems to take me to someone else's auction where the Elme plaque went for a high price.  I can't see what I'm doing wrong there, could someone try that 'translate into English' button and see what happens for them?

Thanks also to Marcus who sent me the Tradera link too. x

[Frank]

It just sends you to a dummy page that lets you translate each term, very confusing, you have to do a double take