Ferdinand Boberg

Betzy Ählström was probably the designer of this vase and others much related vases but this model has as a matter of fact been signed by Ferdinand Boberg.
One might condsider that Ählström probably designed this model but since Ferdinand (and his wife Anna) Boberg were the major names in Sweden around 1900 that Boberg sometimes signed the pieces for commercial reasons. Betzy Ählström remained unknown for most people until she was rediscovered as a glass designer in the 1980s. Actually Sweden's first female glass designer.
Compare Bukowskis auction nr 447 November 1986, lot nr 820, a very similar, larger vase, signed Ferdinand Boberg and also Bukowskis auction nr 533 November 2004, lot nr 1042, the vase signed in gold Reijmyre 1902 Ferdinand Boberg, to base Reimyre No 90, hammer price 260,000.

The World Exhibition in Turin lasted from May to November 1902. It was the skilled master Fredrik Kessmeier (1859-1946) who together with Carl Reimers were commissioned to produce these advanced glass objects.
Dag Widman writes: 'The artists behind Reijmyre's collection of glass for the exhibition were Anna and Ferdinand Boberg and Betzy Ählström. In contrast to Kosta, they now worked at Reijmyre with a technique where the glass got its decor in the workshop through rolling and cutting. Also here at Reijmyre the artist's inspiration was much taken from the works by Emile Gallé and his works executed in a technique called "marqueterie sur verre". The actual patterns were mainly inside the glass mass... ' In Reijmyre glassworks' production book from the years 1901-02 you can follow the entire production of these so called 'Gallé glasses' which were made from December 1901 to August 1902. However it has later been discovered that some of the models continued to be made until the year 1905.
The complicated technology was not suitable for series production and the glassworks returned to producing more commercial glass