How to date Kosta Boda glass

Dating Kosta Glass

Art glass pieces by Kosta are usually signed. However, most production glass is not signed, even if the design comes from a renown designer or artist. There was no uniform way of signing different pieces or series. This difference with Orrefors in the way items are signed and dated can be explained by the different approaches and types of partnerships that the two glassworks had with their artists. Whereas Orrefors usually had a long relationship with their artists and designers, Kosta frequently invited artists to work with them only for a short time. Notable exception is Elis Berg, who worked for Kosta from 1929 to 1950. When Lindstrand started to work with Kosta, he implemented a more or less uniform way of signing and dating all pieces of work, much like it was the practice at Orrefors. The information about signatures and date codes for Kosta Boda glass is sketchy to say the least, since even the company archives only have scant information on this subject. This obviously makes decoding Kosta Boda glass even more trickier. This page tries to give an overview of all date codes, series codes and signatures that should allow dating most of Kosta Boda’s glass.

The most famous designers and their signatures are:

Edvin Ollers

Worked at Kosta from 1917-1918 and 1931-1932. He usually signed “O” or in rarer cases “Ollers”.

Karl Hultström

Worked at Kosta from 1919 until 1924. He usually signed with his full name and the year of production.

Sten Branzell

Worked at Kosta from 1922-1923, 1929-1930 and in 1950. Most of his work is unsigned, however he did sign some pieces with “S.B.” the year of production and “Kosta”.

Sven Erixson (x-et)

Worked at Kosta in 1923 and from 1929-1931. Most of his pieces are signed with his name, the year of production and sometimes the name of the engraver.

Ewald Dahlskog

Virtually all the cut and engraved glass that was produced according to Dahlskog’s design were signed with his name “E. Dahlskog” and “Kosta”.

Elis Berg

Worked at Kosta from 1929 until 1950. His early pieces were just signed with the letter “B” and the model number. In later years, “Kosta” is often added as well as the year of production to more important pieces. The “B” is often written in such a way that the left side of the letter looks like an inverted “E”. In the 1950s, Kosta decided to reproduce some of Berg’s earlier designs. These pieces are clearly marked with “BH” and the model number.

Sven Erik Skawonius

Worked at Kosta from 1933-1935 and 1944-1950. Most of his designs are signed “Skawonius”, the model number, year of production and “Kosta”.

Tyra Lundgren

Worked at Kosta from 1935-1936. Her designs are usually signed with her initials “TL”, the name of the model, the model number, the year of production and “Kosta”.

Vicke Lindstrand

Worked at Kosta from 1950-1973. As mentioned before, with the arrival of Lindstrand at Kosta, a more uniform way of signing glass was introduced. Pieces designed by Lindstrand are signed in the following way:

LH – Items produced by the glassworks in large quantities, starting with the model number 1001. There are however some unique items with this signature. These have the letter “U” added to the signature.

LU – Unique items by Lindstrand, starting with the number 2001.

LC – “Colora” pieces, starting with the number 1.

LF – Bird figurines starting with the number 1.

LG – Engraved glass, starting with the number 101.

LS – Cut glass, starting with the number 501.

Since about 1950 mass produced pieces are signed with the square-shaped acid stamp “Lindstrand Kosta”

Mona Morales-Schildt

Worked at Kosta from 1958-1970. Most of her designs are signed. However, there is no uniform way of signing that was used. Early pieces were signed “SH” and the model number. Later pieces were signed “Mona Schildt”, “M. Morales” or “Morales”. Sometimes the model or serial number is not mentioned at all.

In the 1986 Kosta Book of Glas, the following coding system is mentioned. This seems to apply to most of the pieces that were made in this period. 

Code / NumberNameCategory
20162AdmiralStemware
21101UlricaStemware
21103-08UlricaStemware
21121-22UlricaStemware
21125UlricaStemware
21131-32UlricaStemware
21201ChateauStemware
21203-08ChateauStemware
21221-22ChateauStemware
21225ChateauStemware
21231-33ChateauStemware
21235ChateauStemware
21261ChateauStemware
21262ChateauStemware
21281ChateauStemware
21287-93ChateauStemware
21501LineStemware
21503LineStemware
21505-07LineStemware
21521LineStemware
21525LineStemware
21531LineStemware
21533LineStemware
21562LineStemware
21580LineStemware
21581LineStemware
21588-91LineStemware
21601Line BlackStemware
21603Line BlackStemware
21605-07Line BlackStemware
21621Line BlackStemware
21625Line BlackStemware
21633Line BlackStemware
21687Line BlackStemware
21701Line GoldStemware
21703Line GoldStemware
21705-07Line GoldStemware
21721Line GoldStemware
21725Line GoldStemware
21731Line GoldStemware
21733Line GoldStemware
21780Line GoldStemware
21788-91Line GoldStemware
21801ColombineStemware
21803ColombineStemware
21805-07ColombineStemware
21821ColombineStemware
21825ColombineStemware
21842ColombineStemware
21862ColombineStemware
21880ColombineStemware
21903MistyStemware
21905MistyStemware
21907-08MistyStemware
21921MistyStemware
21962MistyStemware
22125CaptainStemware
22146CaptainStemware
22149CaptainStemware
22150-51CaptainStemware
22162CaptainStemware
22181CaptainStemware
22334-35FrostStemware
22348-50FrostStemware
22446SirStemware
22449SirStemware
22451SirStemware
22481SirStemware
22501KarlbergStemware
22503KarlbergStemware
22505-07KarlbergStemware
22521KarlbergStemware
22523KarlbergStemware
22525KarlbergStemware
22542KarlbergStemware
22603DjurgårdsbrunnStemware
22606DjurgårdsbrunnStemware
22608DjurgårdsbrunnStemware
22621-22DjurgårdsbrunnStemware
22625DjurgårdsbrunnStemware
22649DjurgårdsbrunnStemware
22662-63DjurgårdsbrunnStemware
26001RondoStemware
26003RondoStemware
26005-06RondoStemware
26008RondoStemware
26049RondoStemware
26062-63RondoStemware
26081RondoStemware
29001PrinceStemware
29003-05PrinceStemware
29007PrinceStemware
29021PrinceStemware
29024-25PrinceStemware
29046PrinceStemware
29049-52PrinceStemware
29062PrinceStemware
29079PrinceStemware
29203-05Elvira MadiganStemware
29207Elvira MadiganStemware
29221-25Elvira MadiganStemware
29242Elvira MadiganStemware
29263Elvira MadiganStemware
29801PippiStemware
29805PippiStemware
29821PippiStemware
29825-26PippiStemware
29831PippiStemware
29842PippiStemware
29844PippiStemware
29846PippiStemware
29847PippiStemware
29849-50PippiStemware
29862PippiStemware
29879PippiStemware
29881PippiStemware
44065GraceVases
44268-71ColonnaVases
46245PippiVases
47538-39ZeldaVases
47595ZeldaVases
47602HeartVases
47613HeartVases
47700-03FlowerVases
47705-06FlowerVases
47755-56RoyalVases
47800-02RaindropVases
47833RoyalVases
47834-36AntikvaVases
47846-48PlazaVases
47850-52RosetteVases
47862-64NetworkVases
47865-66AntikvaVases
47872NoblesseVases
47931PlazaVases
47959-61JennyVases
47967NetworkVases
48005-07AtlanticVases
48008-10AntikvaVases
48011-12NetworkVases
48013PastelVases
48014-17Galaxy B.Vases
48018-20UtopiaVases
48021-23PalaceVases
48027OliviaVases
48070-75Engraved vasesVases
48136-37VolcanoVases
48138VolcanoVases
48139VolcanoVases
48140JennyVases
48173-77Wind PipesVases
48194-99Galaxy RedVases
48214-16Galaxy BlueVases
48223RainbowVases
48224RainbowVases
48225-26RainbowVases
48227RainbowVases
48229ValentineVases
48232OctoberVases
48247-48LineVases
48267ChateauVases
48268ChateauVases
48269-71ChateauVases
48278-81TornadoVases
48282-84PoemVases
48285-86TornadoVases
48287-88RainbowVases
48289RainbowVases
48290RainbowVases
48292-93MathildaVases
48301-03BarclayVases
48307-08GrandVases
48318-19FluteVases
48343-45Zig-ZagVases
48350FraganciaVases
48353FraganciaVases
48360-61CascadeVases
48378OctoberVases
48380-82RainbowVases
48383RainbowVases
48401-03AstoriaVases
48410-11SpinVases
48413-15SpinVases
48424-27CardinalVases
48430-31CavalcadeVases
48434-39MinosVases
48440-41LagunaVases
48447-48SerenadeVases
48458-59AvenyVases
48462NovemberVases
48464-69MinosVases
48471-75ZebraVases
48480-82DuetVases
48501-03RideauVases
48505-08AnemonieVases
48510RosetteVases
48512RosetteVases
48515-17ParadiseVases
48530-36AphroditeVases
48558-61CanastaVases
48562-68CymbalVases
48569-70CarmenVases
48572-73CarmenVases
48575-76CiceroVases
48578-79CiceroVases
48581-82CiceroVases
48584-85CharmVases
48586-88CaesarVases
48589-91CameraVases
48601-05AquaVases
48607-11Aqua BlueVases
48619-21HollywoodVases
48622-24Hollywood WhiteVases
48625-27ImpressionsVases
48628-30TulipVases
48636-38MayVases
52451FeathersBowls
56190-91PrinceBowls
57094HarebellBowls
57096HarebellBowls
57283PartyBowls
57284PartyBowls
57285PartyBowls
57287PartyBowls
57288PartyBowls
57345-46PartyBowls
57348PartyBowls
57366HarlequinBowls
57538-39ZeldaBowls
57554-56GrapeBowls
57595-96ZeldaBowls
57618-20GrapeBowls
57706-07PartyBowls
57756RoyalBowls
57792-94OktavBowls
57804-05PartyBowls
57837-39RhapsodyBowls
57846-48PlazaBowls
57850-52LydiaBowls
57862NetworkBowls
57872-73NoblesseBowls
57920RhapsodyBowls
57968MonetBowls
57993-95Engraved BowlsBowls
57997-98Engraved BowlsBowls
58005-09AtlanticBowls
58010AntikvaBowls
58012NetworkBowls
58013PastelBowls
58014-16Galaxy BlueBowls
58027-28OliviaBowls
58056-58NordicBowls
58103PartyBowls
58112SwedenBowls
58136-37VolcanoBowls
58161ChateauBowls
58195-96Galaxy RedBowls
58214Galaxy BlueBowls
58220-22PoemBowls
58227-28LineBowls
58248-50UllaBowls
58262-63OctoberBowls
58267-68ChateauBowls
58270OpusBowls
58272OpusBowls
58279-80TornadoBowls
58285-86RainbowBowls
58301-02BarclayBowls
58315-16PartyBowls
58322FrostBowls
58350-55FraganciaBowls
58360-62CascadeBowls
58372OpusBowls
58375OctoberBowls
58380RainbowBowls
58410SpinBowls
58412-13SpinBowls
58424CardinalBowls
58425-27MaximBowls
58430-32CavalcadeBowls
58434-37MinosBowls
58440LagunaBowls
58441FrostBowls
58451-53UniverseBowls
58462-63NovemberBowls
58464-67MinosBowls
58480-81DuetBowls
58501-03RideauBowls
58510PartyBowls
58512-13MistyBowls
58515-17ParadiseBowls
58523-24ColombineBowls
58527CaptainBowls
58530-31LimelightBowls
58535-37Blue SkyBowls
58551-53UniverseBowls
58558-61CanastaBowls
58562-64CymbalBowls
58565-67ConcordeBowls
58569-74CarmenBowls
58575-83CiceroBowls
58584-86CharmBowls
58589-90CameraBowls
58601-03BlueSpiceBowls
58619-21PicnicBowls
58623-24CaptainBowls
58625-27ImpressionsBowls
58631LimelightBowls
58633-35RomanBowls
58636-38MayBowls
58639CaptainBowls
60023-25SpiralCandleholders
66045BellisCandleholders
66200-02PrinceCandleholders
67350SnowballCandleholders
67352-53SnowballCandleholders
67538ZeldaCandleholders
67541ZeldaCandleholders
67714PolarCandleholders
67800SnowballCandleholders
67981-83Crystal CubeCandleholders
68201RoseCandleholders
68205-207FanfarCandleholders
68305-07UltimaCandleholders
68310Galaxy BlueCandleholders
68311VolcanoCandleholders
68312RainbowCandleholders
68315-17LineCandleholders
68321-23Line BlackCandleholders
68330-31TrumpetCandleholders
68355PartyCandleholders
68404EmpireCandleholders
68406SolitaireCandleholders
68501-03RhombusCandleholders
68504-06DiagonalCandleholders
68512-14RegalCandleholders
68515-17SapphireCandleholders
68520-22FrostCandleholders
68525-27Crystal FantasyCandleholders
68528Crystal FantasyCandleholders
68529Crystal FantasyCandleholders
68530-31Crystal FantasyCandleholders
68532-33Crystal FantasyCandleholders
68535Crystal FantasyCandleholders
68538-46CollageCandleholders
68558CanastaCandleholders
76154PrincePlates & Ashtrays
77153-54PartyPlates & Ashtrays
77159-61GrapePlates & Ashtrays
77283PartyPlates & Ashtrays
77285-86PartyPlates & Ashtrays
77305PartyPlates & Ashtrays
77760GrapePlates & Ashtrays
77805-06GrapePlates & Ashtrays
77808-09LydiaPlates & Ashtrays
77900OvalPlates & Ashtrays
77965SeafoodPlates & Ashtrays
77980-81Crystal CubePlates & Ashtrays
78013PastelPlates & Ashtrays
78101-02PartyPlates & Ashtrays
78103PartyPlates & Ashtrays
78248-50UllaPlates & Ashtrays
78315PartyPlates & Ashtrays
78320FrostPlates & Ashtrays
78321FrostPlates & Ashtrays
78322FrostPlates & Ashtrays
78360CascadePlates & Ashtrays
78401-02ClubPlates & Ashtrays
78405-06PicnicPlates & Ashtrays
78418-19CrossPlates & Ashtrays
78425-27MaximPlates & Ashtrays
78428MaximPlates & Ashtrays
78429MaximPlates & Ashtrays
78430-31MaximPlates & Ashtrays
78435MaximPlates & Ashtrays
78436-37MaximPlates & Ashtrays
78451-52UllaPlates & Ashtrays
78453UllaPlates & Ashtrays
78454UllaPlates & Ashtrays
78504PicnicPlates & Ashtrays
78510PartyPlates & Ashtrays
78511-15Party MarinaPlates & Ashtrays
78526MaximPlates & Ashtrays
78530-33LimelightPlates & Ashtrays
78535-37Blue SkyPlates & Ashtrays
78538-40TemperaPlates & Ashtrays
78542-44PuzzelPlates & Ashtrays
78558-60CanastaPlates & Ashtrays
78561-62CymbalPlates & Ashtrays
78565-66CassiusPlates & Ashtrays
78633-34LimelightPlates & Ashtrays
86200PrinceDecanters
86207PrinceDecanters
86397PippiDecanters
85399PippiDecanters
87793OktavDecanters
87794OktavDecanters
88013PastelDecanters
88108-09OpticDecanters
88227LineDecanters
88320-22FrostDecanters
88325RainbowDecanters
88401SirDecanters
88416PresidentDecanters
88427ChateauDecanters
88501ChessDecanters
88508NobleDecanters
88514BlancDecanters
88515RoséDecanters
88516RougeDecanters
88517You & MeDecanters
88521FrostDecanters
88527CaptainDecanters
88601-02Hollywood WhiteDecanters
88603Blue SpiceDecanters
90001IcebergMiscellaneous
90006IcebergMiscellaneous
90011-13IcebergMiscellaneous
90016IcebergMiscellaneous
90019IcebergMiscellaneous
90042IcebergMiscellaneous
90078IcebergMiscellaneous
90088KarlbergMiscellaneous
91855-56Perfume BottlesMiscellaneous
92394DalecarliaMiscellaneous
92407JonahMiscellaneous
92412PrismMiscellaneous
92415PrismMiscellaneous
92470JonahMiscellaneous
92507-08Irish CoffeeMiscellaneous
92552Irish CoffeeMiscellaneous
93153IcebergMiscellaneous
93155IcebergMiscellaneous
93190IcebergMiscellaneous
94199BouquetMiscellaneous
94206-07BouquetMiscellaneous
94210BouquetMiscellaneous
94217-18BouquetMiscellaneous
95729ZooMiscellaneous
96366DalecarliaMiscellaneous
96880JonahMiscellaneous
97101Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
97105PrismMiscellaneous
97111Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
97124SunflowerMiscellaneous
97217-29SunflowerMiscellaneous
97159-61GrapeMiscellaneous
97183ZooMiscellaneous
97257PrismMiscellaneous
97283PartyMiscellaneous
97289PartyMiscellaneous
97349PartyMiscellaneous
97482Christmas OrnamentMiscellaneous
97502Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
97505-06PartyMiscellaneous
97554GrapeMiscellaneous
97664Christmas OrnamentMiscellaneous
97676IcebergMiscellaneous
97690-95Christmas OrnamentMiscellaneous
97745-46Christmas OrnamentMiscellaneous
97768-70Christmas OrnamentMiscellaneous
97793OktavMiscellaneous
97803-04Mushroom LampMiscellaneous
97809Mushroom LampMiscellaneous
97825OktavMiscellaneous
97827-28OktavMiscellaneous
97844-46Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
97856-68Christmas OrnamentMiscellaneous
97915Mushroom LampMiscellaneous
97922-24OktavMiscellaneous
97939SailsMiscellaneous
97947Mushroom LampMiscellaneous
97981Crystal CubeMiscellaneous
98001-03SailsMiscellaneous
98008OktavMiscellaneous
98014Galaxy BlueMiscellaneous
98023Mushroom LampMiscellaneous
98029JonahMiscellaneous
98044ZooMiscellaneous
98045-46Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
98048Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
98106-09Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
98166Galaxy LampMiscellaneous
98168Galaxy LampMiscellaneous
98170Galaxy LampMiscellaneous
98172Volcano LampMiscellaneous
98181Lamp ShadeMiscellaneous
98205Line GreenMiscellaneous
98271-72Window OrnamentMiscellaneous
98310-11Perfume BottlesMiscellaneous
98320FrostMiscellaneous
98322FrostMiscellaneous
98324FrostMiscellaneous
98329RainbowMiscellaneous
98330-32RainbowMiscellaneous
98415-16PresidentMiscellaneous
98420SirMiscellaneous
98425MaximMiscellaneous
98510PartyMiscellaneous
98515-16ParadiseMiscellaneous
98517-19You & MeMiscellaneous
98525-27Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98528Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98535Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98536-38Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98540-42Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98545-46Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98547Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98549Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98550Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98551Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98552Crystal FantasyMiscellaneous
98555-63MythosMiscellaneous
98565-73MythosMiscellaneous
98580-81ContraMiscellaneous
98583-89CharadeMiscellaneous
98603-05FocusMiscellaneous
98609Blue SpiceMiscellaneous
98650-61FocusMiscellaneous