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Ulla Forsell

Ulla Forsell Glassblower
Contact
Swedish, English
Hours:
Monday to Friday 09:30 - 17:00
Phone:
+46 707543940
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A life in glassmaking

  • • Ulla combines traditional techniques with screen-printing and mirror work
  • • Glassmaking makes her happy and she wants that to show in her work
  • • She is inspired by nature, flora and fauna

Born in 1944, Ulla Forsell has been creating glass since 1974, becoming one of the leading personalities in contemporary glassmaking. She is well known for her circular dishes with three-dimensional flowers, leaves and fruits. She has also been working with mirrors and the reflection of light and colour. “My work is richly decorated, bordering on Baroque. I seek to capture sensuality in glass with shimmering surfaces, though also promoting a dark and mystical aspect by using traditional silvering techniques,” she says. Ulla’s glass studio is located in central Stockholm in an early 18th century building that originally housed a brewery. Today it is the evocative home of several artist studios.

Read the full interview

Works

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Photo: © All rights reserved
Prima Vera

These blown glass vessels are topped with lids featuring individually hand blown flowers. Shaped while still hot, these pieces were inspired by flower baskets made by the Meissen porcelain factory. Both parts can be used separately; the lid as a decorative piece and the vessel as a container.

Height 50 cm
Diameter 20 cm

Photo: © All rights reserved
Flower Power

The ornamental flowers on this plate were inspired by 17th century still life paintings depicting floral arrangements. Hand blown individually and shaped while still hot, the flowers may be scattered on a table as decoration or put in a vase.

Diameter 55 cm

Photo: © All rights reserved
Flowers Forever

These blown glass vases are white and opaque on the inside and present a transparent coloured layer on the outside. They were decorated with individually hand blown flowers inspired by the 'Chinoiserie' aesthetic popularised in 18th century Europe. Ulla has embraced the asymmetry and stylised nature of the movement.

Diameter 18 cm
Height 35 cm

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Raven Mirror

The frame of this mirror was gilded and decorated with hand blown flowers arranged in bouquets. A large water cut, screen-printed raven with black plumage was added on the side. Ulla aimed to create a mysterious old mirror, reminiscent of dark ponds in the woods, surrounded by flowers and wild animals.

Width 45 cm
Height 80 cm

Photo: © All rights reserved
Cracked Mirror

The frame of this mirror was gilded and decorated with blown floral arrangements and screen-printed ravens. Ulla drew inspiration from The Lady of Shalott, a romantic poem written by Alfred Tennyson in the 19th century, which has a cracked mirror at the centre of the story.

Width 65 cm
Height 220 cm

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