Huge signed, labelled 1950s Bengt Orup vase for Johansfors

Of all that we've owned, this is probably my favourite Bengt Orup design. Simple and beautiful, it's similar to one of our favourite Holmegaard designs, a very big Per Lutken vase (see the photo below, or http://www.modernistglass.com/glasspieces/view/2474). This is the Bengt Orup's take on the concept for Johansfors - a very big, heavy, voluminous vase.

This is priced cheaper than the Holmegaard equivalent, first because we picked it up at a bargain price, and second because Johansfors is not as famous as Holmegaard. However, for four reasons, I think this is a very collectable piece, and a bargain compared to its Holmegaard equivalent.

First, and most importantly, it's beautiful. Obviously, there are antiques and antiquities which are valuable because they are old and rare, even though they are ugly. However, it's commonsense that something old and rare and also beautiful is much more saleable. As I said above, it's my favourite, though a very groovy lamp of his might be preferred by some (see http://www.modernistglass.com/glasspieces/search/orup/0/0/0/1).

Second, I've never seen this design before, let alone owned it, so it has rareity value.

Third, Orup was a good designer whose collectability will rise over time.

And fourth, the firm, Johansfors, made quality glass, just not as much of it as some of the better known firms. As more study is done, and more texts become available on mid-century Scandinavian glass, Johansfors will become better known, and will naturally rise in price.

Orup trained as a painter in Paris in the 1930s. He was a designer and then a director at Johansfors from 1951 to 1973. In 1972, the business was sold to Afors Group (later known as Kosta Boda AB).

Height: 30.5cm (12.25 inches)
Width: 20cm x 8cm
Weight: 3kg
Labelled: Johansfors Sweden
Signed: Jfors Orup
Condition: A handful of shallow scratches over about 2 square cm on the back (i.e. not the side with the label). A cluster of shallow scrapes on 1 square cm on the back and one other 2mm scrape higher up, a fleabite on the rim of the base, a 3mm scratch on the side.  None of these, except perhaps the fleabite on the base, can be captured in a photo.  All are insignificant.

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Our Reference: 2790

This item has sold for US $415.00

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