Eda Sweden Ostersund Blue & Marigold Bonbonieres or Candy Jars

 "One Thing Just Leads To Another"

In March of last year, 2016, I purchased an unfamiliar vase to me, a European blue "Grada" vase made by Eda of Sweden. It looks more like some sort of tumbler on steroids. It is 6" high and is 4" wide and came from a friend of mine who lives in Sweden.

Sometime during the beginning of summer of 2016, I read about the "Ostersund Bonboniere", also known as a candy jar, in an article written by Glen Thistlewood, whom I consider an expert extraordinare on European carnival glass. She stated that the Ostersund Bonboniere is actually a Grada Vase without the cover. Interesting...

So now my quest was started to get an Ostersund Bonboniere/candy jar. Auctioneer Jim Seeck was doing an on line only auction in October, 2016 and in his auction was a blue Ostersund Bonboniere, which he stated as, have never seen one before. I kept bidding until it was heading our way. So that was pretty kewl. In only seven months I had the rare Ostersund Bonboniere standing next to our Grada vase. Nice.

I then read about the very rare marigold Ostersund Bonboniere as being known, and thought just how awesome to some day have a marigold one to complete the set. Then, two months later in December, I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing and reading. Jim Seeck was having another on line only auction, December 4th, 2016 and one of the items was a marigold Ostersund Bonboniere. Can you believe it?!?

This was the auction of John & Loretta Neilsen who are known for their collecting of European carnival glass and having very rare and unique pieces. There were several items in this auction that we were hoping to add to our own European collection, and the marigold Ostersund Bonboniere was at the top of the list.

When the auction was over, we had our marigold Ostersund Bonboniere/candy jar. In just a short time, nine months, we had put together very rare and very scarce pieces of Grada and Ostersund. I guess the only thing left is to hunt for a marigold Grada vase. Not an impossibility considering the way these pieces came together. One thing just leads to another, doesn't it?

The Dick & Sherry Betker Collection