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.
Abstract Glass Sculpture by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, Sweden, 1960s
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in Milan, IT
Massive glass block work by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors. Original wood base, signed.
Glass, Wood
Vase Fabula and Ariel Designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden, 2004
By Orrefors, Per B. Sundberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase Fabula and Ariel designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden. 2004. Glass. Dimensions: H: 20 cm/ 7 7/8" D: 17 cm/ 6 2/3" Unique. Signed Orrefors 9663-87 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
White & Orange Vase Designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden, 2003
By Orrefors, Per B. Sundberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase designed by Per B. Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden. 2003. Glass. Dimensions: H: 27 cm/ 10 2/3" D: 18 cm/ 7" Unique. Signed Orrefors 9454-87 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
$1,476 / set
H 9.85 in W 5.12 in D 2.37 in
Mid-Century Modern Nils Landberg Orrefors Set of 2 Vases, circa 1950s, Sweden
By Nils Landberg, Orrefors
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Art glass vases produced by orrefors , and designed by famous Nils Landberg. Wonderful glass with exceptional color that collaborates with the clear glass. These two are a great loo...
Art Glass
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
$639 / 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 Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
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 Edward Hald, Orrefors
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
$207
H 3.15 in Dm 4.73 in
Vintage Orrefors Princess Crystal Bowl from 1970s, Designed by Sven Palmqvist
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
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
Set of Cooler and Shaker Orrefors Nils Landberg, Sweden, 1950s
By Nils Landberg, Orrefors
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This set contains a glass bucket for ice or vine cooler. The other piece is a Shaker/carafe for spirits/whiskey. They are both designed by Nils Landberg a...
Glass
Selena Glass Bowl by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, 1950s, Set of 4
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in KUTNO, PL
The “Selena” glass bowl is an exceptional example of Scandinavian functional glass artistry, designed by Sven Palmqvist for the legendary Swedish glassworks Orrefors. It is an object...
Glass, Art Glass
Massive Ariel Vase by Olle Alberius for Orrefors, Sweden, 1987
By Orrefors, Olle Alberius
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Massive ariel vase by Olle Alberius for Orrefors, Sweden 1987 A heavy art glass vase of the Ariel Cloud series designed by Olle Alberius for Orrefors, Sweden in 1978. Blue and lightblue glass with a very thick crystal clear glass overlay internaly decorated with a pattern depicting clouds, wind and rain. Signed with company lable and incised signature 'Orrefors 939590 Olle Alberius Ariel Gallery 7-87' on the bottom. Weight 5,25 kilos (11.2 lb). A rare piece of Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian glass design. Olle Alberius (1926 - 1993) was a Swedish glass designer...
Art Glass
$1,063
H 6.3 in W 4.73 in D 2.56 in
Large 1, 8kg Sven Palmqvist Lucid Drop Glass Vase for Orrefors, Sweden, 1970s
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: glass vase Design: Sven Palmqvist Producer: Orrefors, Sweden 1970s Age: 1970s Description: Wonderful heavy glass element designed by Sven P...
Glass
Swedish Glass Lily of the Valley Vase by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in New York, NY
Sven Palmqvist (1906-1984) designed Swedish glass vase with engraved Lily of the Valley flower motif. Incised signature and number on bottom, ...
Crystal
$445Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.63 in W 3.55 in D 5.52 in
Vintage Thick and Massive Swedish Orrefors Vase in Grey/Green Sommerso Glass
By Orrefors
Located in Milano, IT
Having started its activities in the late 1800s, and being still active today after an acquisition from Royal Denmark, Orrefors is one of the oldest surviving glassmakers in Sweden a...
Art Glass
Graal Vase by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden, 1953
By Orrefors, Edward Hald
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
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