Bertil Vallien
Bertil Vallien is a Swedish glass artist especially associated with sand-cast sculptures and glass boats. Kosta Boda documents its longstanding collaboration with him and presents art glass and individual product ranges. Artist and manufacturer are distinct roles.
A glass boat is not automatically a Vallien work. Compare form, dimensions, colour, technique and any markings with documented examples. Sand-cast glass should not be described as mouth-blown without examination. A similar silhouette alone is insufficient for attribution.
When buying second-hand, photograph the underside, edges and vulnerable details. Look for chips, cracks and later alterations and record whether a base or accessories survive. Transcribe a signature or number carefully instead of interpreting unclear scratches as a familiar name. Title, edition and production place need evidence for the individual work. A designer biography cannot establish these details for an unidentified object.
