Crystal Reindeer Sculpture by Mats Jonasson – Hand-Etched Lead Crystal, Signed (Sweden), c. 1980 🦌💎🇸🇪

This exquisite piece of crystal art is a genuine work from the renowned Swedish artist, Mats Jonasson. Crafted from full lead crystal, this sculpture features a hand-etched portrait of a reindeer in motion, exuding a sense of majestic power and grace.

The signature of the artist, Mats Jonasson, and the model number etched into the crystal ensure its authenticity and status as a highly sought-after collectible. This piece is a premier acquisition for a collector who values the specific aesthetic of Scandinavian modern design.

2. About the Crystal Sculpture 📖✍️✨

This sculpture is a captivating work of art designed to be a prominent accent in a home or office. The full lead crystal refracts light beautifully, creating a stunning visual display and giving the piece a substantial feel.

The sculpture captures the reindeer mid-stride, framed by rough-hewn crystalline elements that suggest an icy or mountainous landscape. The intricate details of the reindeer's antlers and fur are hand-etched with remarkable skill, giving the piece a lifelike quality. It serves elegantly as a paperweight, a decorative accent, or a valuable addition to any collection of fine art glass.

3. About the Maker: Mats Jonasson ✍️🏛️

Mats Jonasson is a world-renowned Swedish glass artist, celebrated for his signature style of depicting wildlife and nature scenes in crystal. He began his career at the Maleras glassworks in Sweden.

His work is characterized by its dramatic etching and a high level of naturalistic detail. The technique involves sandblasting a design into the back of a piece of crystal that has been cast in a mold, creating a captivating three-dimensional effect. The presence of the hand-etched signature confirms the piece's direct lineage to the artist's studio.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This sculpture is a product of the mid-to-late 20th-century Scandinavian art glass movement. This movement, which flourished from the 1950s onward, was characterized by the high quality of its full lead crystal and its focus on streamlined, nature-inspired motifs.

Swedish glassmakers like those at Maleras pioneered a style that was minimalist, elegant, and deeply connected to the natural world. This piece embodies that tradition perfectly, capturing the rugged beauty of a reindeer in the clean, modern medium of crystal, reflecting the global demand for high-quality, narrative-driven Swedish design.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This sculpture is a compelling acquisition for a specific type of collector. The ideal buyer is a collector of Mats Jonasson's signed work, an art glass enthusiast focused on Scandinavian design, or a gift buyer seeking a truly unique and high-quality piece.

It is an excellent addition for a collector who appreciates the technical skill of hand-etching combined with a bold, naturalistic subject. The piece is equally suited for a formal office setting or a modern home that utilizes natural elements in its décor.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This sculpture is valuable for its authenticity as a signed work by a recognized artist. The presence of the Mats Jonasson signature and the specific model numbers (362 F/M and 3597) provide verifiable production history that is highly valued by collectors.

The item is approximately 40 to 60 years old. The intricate hand-etched details and its perfect, well-preserved condition make it a desirable and high-quality piece of decorative art.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This Mats Jonasson crystal sculpture is in excellent, well-preserved condition.

• Structural Integrity: There are no visible chips, cracks, or imperfections.

• Finish: The crystal is brilliant and clear, and the hand-etched details are sharp and intact.

• Marking: The signature and model numbers are clearly etched into the base.

• Weight: The piece is heavy and solid, confirming its full lead crystal composition.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Sculptural Depth: The design utilizes the thickness of the crystal to create a three-dimensional effect, making the reindeer appear to be suspended within the ice.

• Artist's Origin: The artist Mats Jonasson began his career at the famed Maleras glassworks in Sweden, a factory known for its innovative art glass.

• Signature Etching: The piece is signed by the artist, a feature that immediately distinguishes it from non-artist-approved production runs.

• Material: The sculpture is crafted from full lead crystal, which gives it superior light refraction and density compared to standard glass.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Item Name: Reindeer Crystal Sculpture

• Maker/Artist: Mats Jonasson

• Factory: Maleras Glassworks

• Model Number: 362 F/M and 3597

• Period: Vintage (c. 1980)

• Medium/Material: Hand-Etched Full Lead Crystal

• Decoration: Etched Reindeer in Relief

• Origin: Sweden

• Approximate Height: 4.5 inches

• Approximate Dimensions: W: 5.5", L: 1.5"

• Approximate Weight: 1.2 lbs (1lb 12.3oz)

• Marking Transcription (Verbatim from Base): M. Jonasson (Hand-etched signature) / Sweden 3597 (Etched number)