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.
Glass Vase 'Fabula' by Per B Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden, 2003
By Per B. Sundberg, Orrefors
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase Fabula by Per B Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden. 2003. Unique. H: 22 cm / 8 3/4''
Glass, Paper
Vase 'Fabula' Designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden, 1998
By Orrefors, Per B. Sundberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase “Fabula” designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden. 1998. Paper and glass.
Glass, Paper
Glass Vase Designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden, 1990s
By Orrefors, Per B. Sundberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden. 1990's. Glass. Dimensions: H: 28 cm/ 11'' Per B. Sundberg grew up in Huddinge, south of Stockholm, where he early showed interest in creative expression, including in textile. Sundberg applied and was accepted to the pottery division at Capellagården in Vickleby 1983-85. In the years 1985-1992 he studied glass and ceramics at Konstfack in Stockholm, with a break in 1988 to study at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle. Per B Sundberg altered the course of Swedish design in the 1990s with the advent of new techniques and the creation of experimental...
Glass
White Vase designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden, 2004
By Orrefors, Per B. Sundberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden. 2004. Glass. Dimensions: H: 22 cm/ 8 2/3" D: 20 cm/ 7 7/8" Unique. Signed Orrefors 9450-87 Per B Sundberg. Per B. Sundberg grew up in Huddinge, south of Stockholm, where he early showed interest in creative expression, including in textile. Sundberg applied and was accepted to the pottery division at Capellagården in Vickleby 1983-85. In the years 1985-1992 he studied glass and ceramics at Konstfack in Stockholm, with a break in 1988 to study at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle. Per B Sundberg altered the course of Swedish design in the 1990s with the advent of new techniques and the creation of experimental ceramics...
Glass
Vase ‘Fish Graal’ designed by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden, 1949
By Edward Hald
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase ‘Fish Graal’ designed by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden, 1949. Glass. Signed. Dimensions: H: 16.5 cm / 6 1/2'' Diameter: 9 cm / 3 1/2'' Edward Hald (1883 – 1980) is one of the well-known Swedish glass artists who have worked for Orrefors. After studying in Leipzig, he completed his artistic training with Henri Matisse in Paris. The famous Graal glass is one of the first masterpieces of Edward Hald, which he developed together with Simon Gate and Knut Bergqvist...
Glass
Vase designed by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta, Sweden, 1950s
By Kosta Glasbruk 1, Vicke Lindstrand
Located in Stockholm, SE
A hand-blown glass vase designed by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta in the 1950s, signed “LH 1131 / 62 HD”. The vase has a teardrop-shaped body raised on a clear glass foot, with an opaqu...
Glass
Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden, 1953
By Edward Hald, Orrefors
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful graal vase by Edward Hald, crystal clear with nuances of green. Beautiful underwater motif of fish, where the layers of glass create a lively, wat...
Glass
Edvin Öhrström, Vase, Glass, Sweden, 1940s
By Orrefors, Edvin Öhrström
Located in High Point, NC
A blue blown-glass vase designed by Edvin Öhrström and produced by Orrefors, Sweden, c. 1940s.
Glass
Unique Art Glass Vase by Anna Ehrer for Kosta Boda Sweden 1992 Signed
By Kosta Boda, Anna Ehrner
Located in München, BY
Unique, tall, elegant and highly decorative art glass vase. Designed by Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda Sweden, 1992. Signed at the bottom: Anna Ehrner. 8385.621. Kosta Boda. Unique. 92 ...
Art Glass
Orientes Vase by Erika Lagerbielke for Orrefors Schweden 2002
By Orrefors
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Orientes Vase by Erika Lagerbielke for Orrefors Schweden 2002 A vintage vase "Orientes" from the "The four points of the compass" series. Designed by Erika Lagerbielke for Orrefors Schweden. Black and red glas...
Art Glass
Nils Landberg for Orrefors "Sommerso" Glass Vase
By Nils Landberg, Orrefors
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Elegant glass vase designed by Nils Landberg for Orrefors executed in "Sommerso" technique. Etched signing on bottom.
Blown Glass
Ariel 'Gondoliere' Vase by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors, Sweden, 1962
By Orrefors, Edvin Öhrström
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Ariel 'Gondoliere' Vase by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors, Sweden 1962 A heavy vase of the Ariel Gondoliere series designed by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors Sweden in 1946. Clear gla...
Art Glass
