Bertil Vallien

Bertil Vallien b 1938 near Stockholm in Sweden. In 1955, he began a 2 year foundation course in the Ceramics department at Konstfack after this he undertook 2 years at the School for advanced Industrial Design (HKS/SAID).

Following a year of Military service 1959 he finally decided to continue at Konstfack. For long periods he practically lived at Konstfack, working day and night. He delighted in throwing off pots, and the larger the better - finding important expression in the texture of the clay itself.

Apart from loving his work he also fell in love with Ulrica Hydman, a student of ceramics, a grade or two below him, whom he eventually married.

Bertil spent a period in America where he was both very successful and highly thought of both winning and being nominated for awards. He returned to Sweden after an offer from C.H. Åfors back home: that he should come and design at the Åfors glass-factory.

Vallien’s work was marked for Boda an independent factory which was part of the Afors group and became part of Kosta Boda in the early 1970’s even after this amalgamation Vallien continued to work in the same studio at the Boda factory.

Vallien is still working and his work is some of the most collected of all the Scandinavian designers. It is still possible to see in his work the early influences of ceramics.

Both colour and texture being a major part of his work producing glass which not only looks beautiful but has the tactile nature normally associated with ceramics .