A Swedish National Treasure – Orrefors Glasbruk

Orrefors, a 290-year-old Swedish crystal brand, offers quality design and contemporary style. Orrefors’ extensive collection ranges from dishwasher-safe crystal glasses to hand-crafted crystal vases.

History of Orrefors

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 producing 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 never designed glass before. Gate and Hald collaborated with glass blowers and former cutter Gustav Abels to revive 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. Today, the firm operates a school for glassblowers and engravers from 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, which is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm exchange and involved in several brands in the consumer and corporate markets.

Kosta Boda’s CEO is Ulf Kinneson.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

More Swedish Design

More design articles

• Kosta Boda, Swedish glass manufacturer
• Simon Gate (1883 – 1945) Swedish artisan and designer
• Orrefors Glass
• Swedish Glass Design is inventive and well crafted
• The Brilliance of Swedish Glass, 1918-1939: An Alliance of Art and Industry