Erik Sylvester HÖGLUND (1932-1998) designer, Boda Smide Glas - Lot 125

Erik Sylvester HÖGLUND (1932-1998) designer, Boda Smide Glasbruk éditeur, Sweden circa 1970 3-row wrought-iron and glass chandelier, the pendants simulating masks. Height: 37 cm Diameter: 47 cm (Scratches from use) THIS LOT WILL BE CONSIGNED TO DROUOT'S STORE AFTER THE SALE, IT WILL NOT BE RETURNED. Please refer to the conditions of the auction house concerning the withdrawal of lots before bidding. NOTICE Erik Höglund is one of the most singular and influential figures in Swedish design of the XXᵉ century, whose creativity profoundly transformed the art of glass and decorative design between the 1950s and the 1990s. He came into contact with the visual arts at an early age, initially aspiring to train as a draughtsman and sculptor before finding his voice in the glass material that would become his preferred medium of expression. Höglund studied at the prestigious Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm from 1948 to 1953, where he broadened his artistic practice and redirected his ambitions towards sculpture, drawing and, above all, formal experimentation. Shortly after graduating, he joined the Boda Glassworks (later Kosta Boda) in Småland, southern Sweden, in 1953, where he spent two decades developing glass pieces that challenged convention. Far from the smooth, rational perfection that dominated post-war Scandinavian glass, Höglund favors an expressive aesthetic: organic forms, bubbly texture, vibrant colors and figurative motifs imprinted in the material. It was against this backdrop that he experienced a decisive turning point at the H55 Exhibition in Helsingborg in 1955, where one of his pieces caught the attention of the public and critics alike. Two years later, in 1957, he received the prestigious Lunning Prize, a major accolade for a young Scandinavian designer, and his creations were presented in New York, bringing him early international renown. Höglund's work is not limited to decorative vases and glassware. His art was also expressed through public commissions: he created almost 150 monumental works of stained glass, wall panels and installations for churches, schools and public buildings in Sweden and abroad. In the early 1960s, he explored other materials and disciplines, collaborating with wood and iron craftsmen to create sculptural furniture and lighting. Today, some of his wrought-iron and glass creations are among the most sought-after items for collectors of mid-century Scandinavian design. After leaving Boda in 1973, Höglund pursued an independent practice, multiplying projects and collaborations with other Swedish glassworks such as Pukeberg, Lindshammar and Strömbergshyttan. His later pieces reflect a greater formal freedom, oscillating between craftsmanship and contemporary art. Today, Höglund's work is held in leading museum collections such as the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, the Blekinge Länsmuseum in Karlskrona, and the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, illustrating the lasting impact of his creative vision. Erik Höglund died in 1998, leaving behind a prolific and resolutely personal body of work, which continues to inspire collectors and designers alike for its bold fusion of art and craft and its ability to redefine the expressive possibilities of glass.