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.
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
1940's Orrefors Edward Hald Graal Fish Art Glass Vase Sculpture Made in Sweden
By Edward Hald, Orrefors
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Grall fish art glass vase Edward Hald for Orrefors and dates form the 1940's to early 1950's. Great design and form. Signed on the bottom by the artist. In excellent condit...
Art Glass
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
1940's, Orrefors Edward Hald Graal Fish Art Glass Vase Sculpture Made in Sweden
By Orrefors, Edward Hald
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Grall fish art glass vase Edward Hald for Orrefors and dates form the 1940's to early 1950's. Great design and form. Signed on the bottom by the artist. In very nice condit...
Art Glass
Abstract Glass Sculpture by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, Sweden, 1960s
By Sven Palmquist, Orrefors
Located in Milan, IT
Massive glass block work by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors. Original wood base, signed.
Glass, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Squirrel Crystal Sculpture by Olle Alberius, 1970s
By Orrefors, Olle Alberius
Located in Bochum, NRW
Mid-Century Modern squirrel crystal sculpture by Olle Alberius for Orrefors. Very beautiful, massive crystal sculpture designed by Olle Alberius and made by Orrefors. Signed under t...
Crystal
"Apple" Vase by Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors, Classic Scandinavian Modern
By Ingeborg Lundin, Orrefors
Located in Buffalo, NY
A Swedish Mid-Century Modern blown glass "Apple" vase by, Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors. The "Apple" is one of the icons of Swedish and Scandinavian glass design. Ingeborg Lundin join...
Art Glass
Graal Fish Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors
By Edward Hald
Located in New York, NY
Stunning graal fish vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors...a true form of art with multiples layers of glass. Unbelievable craftsmanship and a tru...
Art Glass
$200 / set
H 4.25 in W 7.5 in D 2.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Amber Resin Bird Sculpture by Dorothy Thorpe 1970s
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
This is an Amber resin bird sculpture, specifically doves, by Dorothy Thorpe made circa the 1970s. The sculpture is perfectly translucent which makes the birds glow in the light!
Resin
Ingeborg Lundin Orrefors Applet Expo Series 1964
By Orrefors
Located in Toledo, OH
Ingeborg Lundin (1921-1991) for Orrefors Applet from Expo Series 1964. Signed.
Glass
Early Fish Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden 1948
By Edward Hald, Orrefors
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Early Fish Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden 1948 A rare vase of the Graal series designed by Edward Hald for Orrefors Sweden in 1938. Clear glass decorated with underw...
Art Glass
$1,533
H 6.89 in W 10.24 in D 8.27 in
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Sculpture by Alessio Tasca, Italy, 1970s
By Alessio Tasca
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Sculpture by Alessio Tasca, Italy, 1970s
Ceramic
Heavy Ariel Glass Vase by Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors, Sweden 1964
By Orrefors, Ingeborg Lundin
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Heavy Ariel Glass Vase by Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors, Sweden 1964 A heavy vase of the Orrefors Ariel series designed by Ingeborg Lundin, Sweden ca. 1950s. Colorless glass with a b...
Art Glass
Vintage Fish Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden 1963
By Edward Hald, Orrefors
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Fish Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden 1963 A vintage vase of the Graal series designed by Edward Hald for Orrefors Sweden in 1938. Clear and green glass decora...
Art Glass
$649 / set
H 7.28 in W 5.11 in D 3.14 in
A trio Crystal Lucid Drop glass vases by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors Sweden
By Sven Palmquist, Orrefors
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A trio of sculptural vintage glass vases designed by Sven Palmqvist and produced by Orrefors, Sweden, during the 1960s. Executed in high-quality clear crystal, the vases features an...
Glass, Sommerso
Great Fish Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden 1957
By Orrefors, Edward Hald
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nice Fish Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden 1957 Item e6741 A heavy vase of the Graal series designed by Edvward Hald for Orrefors Sweden in 1938. Clear and green glas decorated with underwater flora and fishes, overlayed with a thick clear glass layer. This example dates to 1957. Signed with: 'Orrefors Graal No 471 M Edward Hald'. An authentic piece of Midcentury Modern Scandinavian glass design. 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...
Art Glass
$210
H 3.15 in Dm 4.73 in
Vintage Orrefors Princess Crystal Bowl from 1970s, Designed by Sven Palmqvist
By Sven Palmquist, Orrefors
Located in Bochum, NRW
Vintage Orrefors Princess Crystal Bowl from 1970s, Designed by Sven Palmqvist. The bowl is signed on the bottom. A beautiful item for mantlepiece, console or coffee table design. Th...
Crystal
Swedish Art Deco Smoked Glass Vase by Edward Hald, Orrefors, 1923
By Edward Hald, Orrefors
Located in Glasgow, GB
An original Swedish Art Deco smoked glass vase designed in 1923 by Edward Hald for the Sandvik branch of Orrefors Glassworks, Sweden. This early and significant work reflects Hald’s ...
Smoked Glass
Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden, 1953
By Orrefors, Edward Hald
Located in Stockholm, SE
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
Hyaline Glass Cat Sculpture by Olle Alberius for Orrefors, 1970s
By Olle Alberius, Orrefors
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Purchasing the Hyaline Glass Cat Sculpture by Olle Alberius for Orrefors, crafted in the 1970s, offers an opportunity to bring a touch of elegance and whimsy into your home decor. Re...
Art Glass
Edward Hald for Orrefors Fish Vase
By Orrefors, Edward Hald
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Edward Hald for Orrefors glass vase. Nice original example with no damage. Nice bright colors. Signed to bottom.
Art Glass
Sold
H 7.75 in W 6.5 in D 3.25 in
Mid-Century Modern Crystal Glass Eagle Signed Orrefors Olle Alberuis 20th C
By Orrefors
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Mid-Century Modern sculpture offers art glass stylized spread wing eagle, signed on base Orrefors 4286 117 Olle Alberuis, 20th C Measures- 7.75''H x 6.5''W x 3.25''D.
Crystal
Orrefors Sweden Glass Elephant Signed by the Artist Olle Alberius
By Olle Alberius, Orrefors
Located in Marbella, ES
Orrefors Sweden glass elephant signed by the Artist Olle Alberius.
Art Glass
1960s Modern Swedish Orrefors Crystal Bowl Centerpiece Sculpture
By Orrefors
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant modernist crystal sculpture, centerpiece, bowl by Orrefors, Sweden. Beautiful and heavy shaped crystal half sphere on square pedestal. Pedestal bears a factory label on top a...
Crystal
Sold
H 10 in W 7 in D 4 in
Mid-Century Modern "Exposition" Glass Sculpture by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in New York, NY
This refined Mid-Century Modern sculpture was created by the esteemed Swedish design Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, circa 1960. It offers a volumetric rectangular body in handblown tra...
Blown Glass
Modernist Crystal Elephant by Olle Alberius for Orrefors
By Olle Alberius, Orrefors
Located in San Diego, CA
Very stylized modernist crystal elephant by Olle Alberius for Orrefors, circa 1970s. Signed and numbered a very cool piece!
Orrefors Crystal Vase
By Orrefors
Located in New York, NY
A midsommar maiden joyously rains flowers down from an overflowing basket!