1960s “inkwell” vase in blue and green glass — Randsfjord Glassverk, design by Benny Motzfeldt.
 
Height: 7.5 cm (3 in)
Width (max): 10.4 cm (4.1 in)
Opening: 4.5 cm (1.8 in)
Weight: 440 g (0.97 lbs)
Material: Hand-blown glass, cube-shaped body with rounded edges
Designer: Benny Motzfeldt
Markings: Original Randsfjord Glassverk paper label with Norwegian flag and “Design Benny Motzfeldt”
Period: 1960s, Randsfjord Glassverk
Condition: Perfect vintage condition – no chips, cracks, or damage
 
This charming low vase, often referred to as an “inkwell vase”, showcases Benny Motzfeldt’s early design work at Randsfjord Glassverk (1960–65). Executed in a cube-like form with softly rounded corners, it is compact, stable, and highly functional as well as decorative.
 
The glass is a rich and even blue with subtle tonal depth, giving the piece a calm yet striking presence. Its geometric body contrasts with the small circular opening, a hallmark of Motzfeldt’s interest in the balance between strict form and organic detail.
 
Still retaining its original Randsfjord Glassverk label with Norwegian flag, this vase is not only a beautiful decorative object but also a collectible piece of Norwegian design history.
 
About the designer
Benny Anette Motzfeldt (1909–1995) began her career in glass design at Christiania Glasmagasin in the 1950s before becoming artistic director at Randsfjord Glassverk from 1960 to 1965. There she established her reputation as one of Norway’s leading glass designers, creating functional yet expressive vessels with a modernist clarity.
 
Later, as artistic director at PLUS in Fredrikstad (1967–79), she developed her most experimental and painterly techniques. Her works are represented in major museums and remain highly sought after by collectors of Scandinavian design.
This small “inkwell vase” from her Randsfjord period is a fine and rare example — combining compact modernist geometry with subtle color artistry.