History
Orrefors Glasbruk is a Swedish glassware manufacturer. An ironworks was established in 1726 on the property of Halleberg ( the Orrefors estate), Socken, Småland. It started the production of ink bottles in 1898. In 1913, Johan Ekman purchased the estate and placed forester Albert Ahlin in charge.
Ekman produced art glass with little success until he hired Simon Gate in 1916 and Edward Hald in 1917, members of the Slojdforeningen (Swedish Crafts Society), as designers. The two artists had done no glass designing before. Gate and Hald collaborated with the glass blowers and former cutter Gustav Abels on reviving engraved glass.
Developed the Graal technique
With master glassblower Knut Bergqvist, they developed the Graal technique in 1916. In 1933, Gate became director of Orrefors. Orrefors also produced a full range of tableware. Designers Edvin Ohrstrom, Vicke Lindstrand and blower Gustav Bergqvist developed the ariel technique. In 1889, the Sandvik glass works were leased. In 1918, Orrefors purchased it; it specialised in plain, inexpensive tables and household soda glass and expanded the Orrefors range.
In 1975, Orrefors bought Strömbergshyttan; in 1984, the SEA and Alghuit glassworks. Designers included Nils Landberg, Gunnar Cyren, Eva Englund, and Lars Hells ten. The firm today operates a school for glassblowers and engravers from among whom it draws its workforce.
Recognition
Received three grand prizes and three gold medals at 1925 Paris ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Work (by Edvin Ohrstrom) shown at 1937 Paris ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques clans la Vie Moderne.’
Today
Orrefors glass is a significant part of Kosta’s business. It is a genuine glass studio close to glassworking and designers. They run tourism and events operations that attract more than one million visitors each year.
Glasma, a glass pellets manufacturer, is owned by Orrefors Kosta Boda AB.
Since 2005 Orrefors Kosta Boda AB has been part of the New Wave Group. New Wave Group is involved in several brands in the consumer and corporate markets. New Wave Group is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm exchange.
Kosta Boda’s CEO is Ulf Kinneson.
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Swedish Design – Amazon
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Swedish Design: An Ethnography -
Orrefors: A Century of Swedish Glassmaking -
Swedish Glass Factories: Production Catalogues, 1915-60 -
The Best of Modern Swedish Art Glass: Orrefors and Kosta 1930-1970 -
Swedish Glass: Awarded Design -
The Brilliance of Swedish Glass, 1918-1939: An Alliance of Art and Industry
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