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.
Fine Crystal Perfume Bottle With Faceted Stopper By Orrefors, Sweden. c1980's
By Orrefors
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Beautiful and pure, crystal clear perfume bottle by Orrefors, Sweden Unusually faceted, cut crystal stopper completes this most appealing piece Circa 1980's Height with stopper 3.5 ...
Crystal
Orrefors Sweden Martti Rytkönen Crystal Elephant Orrefors Glass Paperweight
By Orrefors
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Orrefors Sweden Crystal Elephant, the Zoo Collection by Martti Rytkönen. This beautiful Orrefors crystal elephant paperweight from Sweden designed by Martti Rytkönen is a true minima...
Crystal
Martti Rytkönenfor Orrefors Valentino Heart Shape Votive Paperweight
By Orrefors
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Valentino heart shape votive paperweight from Orrefors, designed by Martti Rytkönen.Valentino Votive candle holder from Orrefors is shaped like a heart...
Crystal
Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with intricate white, light blue, and dark blue ribbons / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Origina...
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with white "filigrana" - white filaments intricately superimposed and intertwined within the glass / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Me...
Murano Glass
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' Polished Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' polished brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this beautifully refined Viennese paperweight is hand-fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte ...
Brass
Handmade Big Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Grey Bardiglio Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in grey Bardiglio marble. Measure: diameter 12cm Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and handcraft...
Marble
Handmade Small Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Grey Bardiglio Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in grey Bardiglio marble. Measure: Diameter 8 cm Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and handcra...
Marble
Handmade Big Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Portoro Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in Portoro marble. Measure: Diameter 12 cm Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and handcrafted in ...
Marble
Carl Auböck Paperweight #5371 or 5788 "Heart", Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight #5371 or 5788 "Heart", Austria. Price is per piece. Available in different sizes.
Brass
Venini Glass Paperweight
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
This egg-shaped Venini glass paperweight has a purple spiral encased in an orange spiral. It still bears the original Venini label with the Veronese va...
Glass
Handmade Small Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Portoro Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in Portoro marble. Measure: Diameter 8 cm Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and handcrafted in I...
Marble
Crystal Perfume Bottle with Stopper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful cut glass or crystal perfume bottle. The bulbous bottle with the elongated matching Stopper is lovely combination The piece is a nice stand-alone piece or works well as...
Crystal
Art Glass Heart Paperweight Decorative Object
By Robert Held
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial art glass heart paperweight or decorative object by artist Robet Held, circa late-20th century. Heart is a light blue art glass with touches of blue and p...
Art Glass
Orrefors Valentino Votive Clear
Located in Wilkes Barre, PA
Valentino Votive candle holder from Orrefors is shaped like a heart and made of thick, clear crystal with soft edges giving it a gentle, rounded look. It is suitable for either votive or tealight candles. Designed by Martti Rytkönen.
Crystal
Mid Century Glass Golf Ball Paperweight by Orrefors Sweden 1960s
By Orrefors
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
A mid-century glass golf ball paperweight made by Orrefors, circa the 1960s. The Orrefors Sweden sticker is attached to the base.
Glass
Vintage Crystal Ashtray, Alvar Aalto, 1980s
By Orrefors, Alvar Aalto
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage crystal ashtray is a decorative crystal object designed by Alvar Aalto and manufactured by the Swedish Companies Orrefors and Ittala in...
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Orrefors Cache Tray and Votive
By Orrefors, Vicke Lindstrand
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful pair of Orrefors midcentury clear glass cache tray/candy bowl/ashtray and votice/cup designed by Vicke Lindstrand (Swedish, 1904-1983), 1957. Each piece engraved "Orrefors....
Art Glass
Ingeborg Lundin 'Ariel' Art Glass Vase for Orrefors
By Ingeborg Lundin, Orrefors
Located in Astoria, NY
An Orrefors 'Ariel' vase by Ingeborg Lundin, produced circa 1960s, in cobalt blue, cased within a clear layer, detailing abstract faces in profile. Markings include [Orrefors/ Ariel ...
Blown Glass