The Swedish design philosophy of “beautiful things for everyday life” is actualized in the vintage glassware of Orrefors. Founded in 1898, this glass manufacturer was one of the leading companies in the Scandinavian modernism movement and is revered by collectors for the fine craftsmanship and innovation of its superlative art glass.
Orrefors began making art glass — works that, distinct from mass-production pieces, are made in small numbers to showcase the skills and talents of artists and artisans — in 1913. Two of the first artists hired by the firm were Simon Gate and Edward Hald, who worked initially in the organic Art Nouveau style, and later proved adept with the geometric imagery of the Art Deco period.
Hald and Gate worked closely with glassblowers to refine traditional glassmaking methods, creating new materials such as "graal" glass. In the graal technique a design made with colored glass is encased in layers of transparent glass, preserving the image while the overall glass form is worked and shaped. Orrefors won an international following when it presented such pieces in Paris in 1925 at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes — the design fair whose name gave rise to the term Art Deco.
In the years following that success, Orrefors attracted more dynamic and experimental artists such as Vicke Lindstrand and Edvin Ohrström, who joined the company in the 1930s. Lindstrand and Ohstrom worked with glassblowers to create the "ariel" glass technique, an innovation that produces deeper, richer imagery that seems to morph and flow as light is refracted by the glass.
As you will see from the items offered on 1stDibs, there is a special aesthetic quality to vintage Orrefors glass. Whether a vase or a set of wine goblets, the work of this premier Swedish company represents the apex of functional artistry.
Olle Alberius for Orrefors Small Residence Crystal Bowl, Scandinavian Modern
By Olle Alberius, Orrefors
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage bowl was created by Olle Alberius for Orrefors Sweden as a part of Residence series; it features undulating curved faceted sides in clear crystal. Residence series was in pr...
Crystal
Jan Johansson for Orrefors Crystal Reflections Bowl
By Jan Johansson, Orrefors
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Art Deco style Crystal Reflections Bowl was designed by Jan Johansson for Orrefors Sweden. It was made in Sweden of clear crystal. Jan Johansson (1942-2018) was a well-known Swedish...
Crystal
Anne Nilsson for Orrefors Set of Raspberry Bowls Crystal, Sweden 1992
By Anders Nilson, Orrefors
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Raspberry is a collection of clear crystal bowls, vases, votive candle holders and a plate, that was designed by Anne Nilsson for Orrefors in 1992. The round balls resemble a raspber...
Crystal
Vintage Waterford Crystal Bowl, Signed
By Waterford Crystal
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage crystal bowl by Waterford features organically shaped, intertwined cuts, creating a sense of motion and guiding the eye along the sides of the piece. The distinctive, minima...
Crystal
Edvin Öhrström for Orrefors Crystal Engraved Vase, 1942 Scandinavian Modern
By Orrefors, Edvin Öhrström
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Orrefors engraved crystal vase features "Wish To The Moon" pattern, created by Edvin Ohrstrom in 1942. The pattern depicts a young woman or g...
Crystal
Einar Dragsted Art Deco Bowl with Sculptural Handles, Denmark
By Einar Dragsted
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage bowl features rounded rectangular form with twin Art Nouveau style handles, sculpted as abstract stems with buds. The decorative, ornamental shape of the handles juxtaposes t...
Silver Plate
Signed Orrefors Crystal Bowl Dish Keep All with Wavy Cut Design, Sweden
By Orrefors
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Elegant clear crystal bowl by Orrefors, Sweden, featuring a sophisticated wavy cut design that captures and reflects light beautifully. This heavy, multifaceted bowl serves as a styl...
Crystal
Lars Hellsten Orrefors Crystal Corona Bowl, Hand-Crafted in Sweden
By Lars Hellsten, Orrefors
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Orrefors Sweden Crystal Corona Bowl by Lars Hellsten circa 1960s. The Swedish crystal Corona bowl, designed by sculptor Lars Hellsten for Orrefors, showcases a flared form with a scalloped edge and is signed with a marked with needle-etched Orrefors at the base. Thick-walled clear crystal glass; the side edge with the opening rim with six indentations. Mid Century Modern glass bowl by Orrefors, circa 1960s, designed by Lars Hellsten. 6 petal bowl known as the Corona bowl. Vintage Modernist design Orrefors Sweden Art Glass Corona Bowl by Lars Hellsten. This elegant six-sided petal bowl is a remarkable piece of art, reflecting exquisite attention to detail. Beautiful solid glass bowl...
Crystal
Orrefors, Lars Hellsten, Orion Crystal / Glass Bowl, Sweden, 20th Century
By Orrefors, Lars Hellsten
Located in Chatham, ON
Orrefors (Manufacturer) - Lars Hellsten (Designer) - Orion (Product Line / Name) - Vintage Scandinavian clear crystal / glass bowl - original applied sticker and etched signature to ...
Crystal
Mid-Century Modernist Crystal Bowl with Organic Base Detailing signed Orrefors
By Orrefors
Located in New York, NY
An elegant Mid-Century Modernist crystal bowl, featuring organic base detailing, signed Orrefors, originates from Sweden, circa 1960. This exquisite piece highlights the superior des...
Crystal
Orrefors 'Corona' Crystal Bowl, Vintage Swedish Design, Circa 1970
By Orrefors
Located in Raleigh, US
Orrefors Swedish ‘Corona’ Heavy Crystal Bowl This exquisite vintage crystal bowl from Orrefors, a renowned Swedish glass manufacturer, combines classic elegance with modern design. ...
Crystal
Vintage Orrefors Crystal Bowl, Scalloped Design, Sweden, 1970s
Located in Coral Gables, FL
A beautifully sculptural vintage crystal bowl by Orrefors, Sweden, distinguished by its elegant scalloped rim and deeply cut vertical facets that create exceptional brilliance and op...
Crystal
