Simon Gate, a large "Graal" glass vase, Orrefors, Sweden 1919.
Turquoise glass, trumpet-shaped, stylized floral decoration, signed and dated SGraal Orrefors 19 KB - HW N=834 (blown by Knut Bergqvist, subject etched by Heinrich Wollman). Height 32 cm.
Repaired foot where it attaches to the shaft.
Glass engraver Elis Rydh (1881-1964), a gift from his brother-in-law, master glassblower Knut Bergqvist (1873-1953).
Thence by descent within the family to the current owner.
Helmut Ricke & Ulrich Gronert, "Glass in Schweden 1915-60", Prestel-Verlag 1987, listed in the catalogue of works p. 276.
Simon Gate was a Swedish glass artist, painter, and designer. After studying at the Academy of Arts, he started working at the Orrefors glass factory. Together with the glass artist Edward Hald, he contributed to the glass factory's first international success. From 1916, Simon Gate produced the so-called ’graal’ glass, which master blower Knut Bergqvist further developed from cameo glass. Today, the graal glass pieces from Orrefors are among the most sought-after pieces of art glass among Swedish collectors. Together with Knut Bergqvist, he also created the so-called ’slottsglas’ which have received much attention recently. Simon Gate also became famous for his engraving compositions on the glasses, which were decorated with, among other things, processions and dancing women.
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