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The art of glass and colour – Kosta Boda’s enduring legacy
A meeting of artistry and mastery
We visited the glassworks at Kosta Boda recently to gain a deeper understanding of their production and to speak with Amanda Hasselström, Brand Manager at Kosta Boda, about the artistry behind the brand and the creation of a new, exclusive colourway of The Rock.
“What makes Kosta Boda truly special,” Amanda explains, “is the meeting between artistry and mastery, a dialogue that’s been alive in our glassworks for generations.”
Every object that leaves our hotshop carries the imprint of human hands, of knowledge passed down for over two centuries.
It is this combination of tradition, curiosity and a fearless approach to experimentation that gives Kosta Boda its distinct character.
From deeply rooted traditions to modern day craftsmanship
The glassworks in Kosta is far more than just a production site, it is the beating heart of both the brand and the local community. “This is where tradition, craft and local pride come together,” Amanda says. “To this day all of our art glass and limited editions are created here [in Sweden], entirely by hand.”
Maintaining production in Kosta isn’t just about preserving heritage, it is about keeping the craft alive. “It means attracting new generations of glassmakers,” Amanda adds, “and keeping the cultural identity of the region thriving.”
For Kosta Boda, heritage isn’t something that restricts innovation, it is the fuel that ignites the fire. “We honour our past by allowing it to evolve,” Amanda says. “Our designers are constantly exploring new forms, techniques, and collaborations, but always with respect for craftsmanship. Innovation here starts with asking: What else can glass do? What can it express?”
This balance between daring to be different while remaining respectful of the craft is what defines every piece that leaves the glassworks at Kosta Boda, including The Rock, one of Kosta Boda’s most striking contemporary designs.
The Rock: a bold new form with a familiar soul
Designed by Hanna Hansdotter, “The Rock embodies the duality that defines Kosta Boda,” Amanda says. “It’s a reverence for our history, paired with the confidence to redefine it.” Hanna was inspired by one of Kosta Boda’s most iconic designs, The Snowball by Ann Wolff, infusing it with her own sense of rebellion.
Each Rock is cast in a three-part metal mould, a process requiring absolute precision and teamwork. “To secure the integrity of each piece, our glassblowers work in a close team of three,” Amanda explains. “Once cast, the votive rests on a cooling belt for twelve hours to allow the glass to stabilise slowly and evenly.”
Its sculptural geometry and thickness make The Rock particularly demanding to produce, Amanda tells us, requiring perfect control of temperature, timing and rhythm from the dedicated glass blowers.
Right out of the annealer at the Kosta Boda glass works.
The science of colour
Colour has always been a cornerstone of Kosta Boda’s identity. “It’s part of our artistic DNA,” Amanda says. “In glass, colour isn’t made with pigments, it is created through combinations of metals and minerals that react to heat and chemistry in the furnace. Every element behaves differently, and even the smallest variation in temperature or cooling can transform the final hue.”
For The Rock, achieving a saturated yet luminous colour, no matter the shade, is both an art and a science. “The challenge lies in capturing that bold, saturated colour while preserving the glass’s clarity," Amanda explains. “[We want to allow] the piece to feel both solid and luminous at once.”
Snowball, also produced by Kosta Boda was the inspiration for Hanna Hansdotter’s “The Rock”.
An exclusive edition for Nordic Nest
This year, Kosta Boda is producing a brand-new colour way of The Rock, exclusively for Nordic Nest. Through a close collaboration the team at Kosta Boda has developed a light grey-brown colourway, a sophisticated and understated hue that presented its own technical challenges.
“Developing new colourways is a patient, experimental process,” Amanda says. “It can take months. Each new shade is tested through countless trials, adjusting the formula, testing in the furnace, observing how it behaves in different thicknesses and lighting.” She continues.
“The light grey-brown tone we created for Nordic Nest is a subtle, sophisticated shade that is complex to achieve because it sits between warm and cool spectrums, demanding perfect control in the furnace.”
The final result, she emphasises, “is beautifully nuanced: a colour that enhances the sculptural form while adding a calm, contemporary elegance.”
The craft that lives on
For Amanda and the team at Kosta Boda, every new creation is a continuation of a 280-year story that is written in fire, glass, and imagination. “Our history isn’t something we simply tell,” she reflects. “It’s something we live and shape every day.”
That legacy lives on in The Rock. It is a piece that bridges past and present, combining artistry and technical craftsmanship with experimentation. It’s not just glass, it is a symbol of what happens when heritage and innovation meet in perfect harmony.
Photos: Kosta Boda, Ardijan Mahmutaj
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