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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Scandinavian Glass => Topic started by: bfg on February 13, 2012, 09:41:02 AM

Title: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: bfg on February 13, 2012, 09:41:02 AM
good morning  everyone

I am currently researching a KB vase I have, signed by Bertil Vallien followed by a long line of numbers.
From perusing the board I have learned that the number sequence ought to start with a 4 = vase and the next two numbers should give a year of production - yes?

No!

So now I am thinking I should invest in above book which I can get from the US via Amazon, my question is - as it is quite an investment for me - is it likely to have the required info in it?

I have trawled google for ages to no avail and wouldnt just ask unless I had first tried but I've got stuck  :cry:

thanks (again) if you can help
Mel
Title: Re: Kosta Boda book of glass
Post by: Max on February 13, 2012, 10:24:41 AM
Hi there Mel

Have you uploaded a photo of the item to the gmb?  Someone here might be able to help...Bill Geary for instance is very good with Kosta, although he's not often around.  But perhaps you like to do your own research?  Hopefully someone will be able to help you either way or with more info on the book.   :)

Title: Re: Kosta Boda book of glass
Post by: Anne on February 13, 2012, 01:33:24 PM
Mel, pop the details of the number on the board here and someone might be able to help. :thup:
Title: Re: Kosta Boda book of glass
Post by: bfg on February 13, 2012, 04:45:12 PM
thanks for your replies Max and Anne I'm grateful for any and all help!

The sig reads :
Kosta Boda
B. Vallien
Ateg'e
305844614
now, the 4's are open to interpretation, they may be 1's or Y's if that were to make more sense

silver rectangular paper label reads

Kosta Boda
Sweden
Atelier by Bertil Vallien

I understand that atelier means studio in this context

any pointers welcomed, back to google some more

Mel

Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: Max on February 13, 2012, 08:35:37 PM
Mel.  I've altered the title of this thread so that you might get more people assisting you.   :) :)
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: ahremck on February 14, 2012, 03:49:44 AM
You need to supply at least two photos.  One of the general view of the item.  Second a clear photo of the base.  I suggest you do not photograph the base square on as the patterns in the glass tend to confuse the eye and make reading the base markings harder.  I have attached two examples from a Gunnel Sahlin vase I own showing the benefit of taking from a shallow angle so the "writing" comes out black against the reflected light off the flat base.  This in effect negates any pattern in the glass.

Ross
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: langhaugh on February 14, 2012, 06:16:56 AM
Mel,

The coding system you mention is applied to KB production items beginning in the early 70's. Atelier pieces have a different coding system. What you have  written doesn't make sense so it would good to see the actual writing. My guess would be that what you see as a 3 is the "r" of atelier. The first two numbers in Atelier are the year of manufacture, which in your case would be 05. The next number is the form of glass. 8 is a decanter so I'll stop guessing here and wait to see the numbers.

I'm not sure how consistent KB was was with their Atelier coding system as the pieces in Kosta 250 years have numbers that often vary from what the system says they should be. There isn't anybody who has produced an explanation of KB's coding system the way that Ulrika Ruding did for Orrefors.

You are not alone in your frustration.

David
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: bfg on February 14, 2012, 08:45:50 AM
thanks Max for the tweak :-)

Ok,

Ross thanks for the reply and suggestion re pics, these are my best efforts (sorry) hope its clear enough - I did employ the old talcum powder trick lol

David thanks also for the reply hope you can make sense of the serial numbers!

Mel
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: langhaugh on February 14, 2012, 04:53:59 PM
Hi,

Boy, was I wrong with my guesswork. This is part of the "Aphrodite" series produced as part of the "Artist Collection," which was intended  to be glass that was "a little more adventurous" and created by either Bertil Vallien or Ulrica Hydman-Vallien. It was originally given a production number. This looks like either 48533 or 48534, depending on its size. So designed in 1985.

The question is whether the Atelier series was before or after the the production series. My understanding of the coding system (limited) can't make sense of these numbers.  A close up of the label would give us an idea of time of production.

Nice piece.

Good luck.

David
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: bfg on February 15, 2012, 09:17:44 AM
wow! thank you David, loads of info there - i'll try googling some more.

did this data come from the kosta boda book ( back to my original question of is it worth a punt) or do you have access to other resources?

thanks again for taking the time to look it up and reply, much appreciated

Mel
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: ahremck on February 15, 2012, 09:47:06 AM
"The Kosta Boda Book of Glass" published in 1986 is an excellent reference for most older pieces of KB or Boda glass(as Bertil Vallien came from Boda with many established designs).  This color of Aphrodite vase is not shown so its number will be > 48536 or < 48530, probably the former.  David's suggestions are the wrong colours - 48533 has yellow stripes, and 48534 is white on frosted white.

Personally I have found Kosta Boda helpful by answering emails - redirecting me to Kosta Boda USA where a lady called Jackie Sebastiano has been very helpful.

Ross
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: langhaugh on February 15, 2012, 10:29:24 AM
Ross is correct about the the 1986 book, and the colours. There is one for 1994 and 2000 also, but the 1986 is the one I use most. There's also Kosta 250 Years, which gives an overview of the history of the companies. It's a decent book, but not that useful practically speaking.  There isn't a book that explains the coding system.

Vallien would say his allegiance was to Afors, a company that was taken over by Boda. He insisted on the factory remaining open.  More importantly, he ensured the factory would successful by continuing to design production pieces when he could have made enough income deigning only his high-priced  individual pieces. He's very much an artist with a social conscience.

David

Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: bfg on February 15, 2012, 12:41:28 PM
thank you for the updated info Ross, much appreciated.

Interesting background info on BV David, thanks again.

Based on both David's and Ross's comments re the 1986 book - I'm off to Amazon and the kids will be living on beans on toast for a while haha!
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: bfg on February 16, 2012, 02:42:31 PM
Rats! amazon.com wont ship the book to the UK and there are none on the .uk site

Don't suppose anyone has seen one for sale this side of the pond on their virtual travels?

Mel
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: Greg. on February 16, 2012, 02:49:29 PM
Currently listed in the states, however, ship worldwide.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kosta-Boda-Book-Glass-Kosta-Boda-staff-/180750211248?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item2a158d58b0#ht_2553wt_952

Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: bfg on February 16, 2012, 02:59:28 PM
doh! ebay of course! why didnt I think of that

thank you Greg
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 16, 2012, 03:15:55 PM
There's also at least two sellers on Amazon.com marketplace that will ship internationally  :spls:
Title: Re: Help with Kosta Boda signature please - Bertil Vallien
Post by: bfg on February 16, 2012, 03:45:14 PM
yes but the price was creeping up, will fall back on those if i have no luck with the ebay seller ....there maybe a revolt in the household if I keep giving them beans for tea lol