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.
Vintage Slip Graal Bowl by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden
By Orrefors, Edward Hald
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Slip Graal Bowl by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden A vintage bowl of the Slip Graal series designed by Edward Hald for Orrefors Sweden in 1937. Blue and yellow glass cutted...
Art Glass
Rare Ariel Bowl by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors, Sweden 1953
By Orrefors
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Ariel Bowl by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors, Sweden 1953 A large bowl of the Ariel series designed by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors Sweden. Colorless glass with a purple and gr...
Art Glass
Vintage Art Glas Bowl by Willy Johannsen for Hadeland (attr.) 1957
By Hadeland
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Art Glas Bowl by Willy Johannsen for Hadeland (attr.) 1957 A vintage art glass bowl most probably manufactured by Hadeland Glassworks and designed by Willy Johansson in 1957. Thick purple glass with a orange glass layer on the rim. The bowl was part of the a series designed in 1957 for the Milan Triennale. See Albert Steen, 'Willy Johansson og Hadeland Glassverk', Kunstindustrimuseet i Oslo 1984, p. 23, Joseph Philippe, 'Glass History and Art, From the Beginnings until Today', Liège 1982, p. 132, fig. 252 and Mats Linder...
Art Glass
Large Venini Bowl 'Coreano', Designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1966
By Tapio Wirkkala, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Venini Bowl 'Coreano', Designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1966 A blue and green a fasce a spirale bowl from the Coreani series. Designed in 1966 by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini. Produ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Large Venini Bowl 'Coreano', Designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1966
By Tapio Wirkkala, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Venini Bowl 'Coreano', Designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1966 A blue and green a fasce a spirale bowl from the Coreani series. Designed in 1966 by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini. Produ...
Art Glass
Vetro Sommerso Bowl by Carlo Scarpa for Venini Murano ca. 1930s
By Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vetro Sommerso Bowl by Carlo Scarpa for Venini Murano ca. 1930s A vetro sommerso bollicine bowl designed by Carlo Scarpa ca. 1936. Manufactured by Venini Murano Venice in the 1930s....
Art Glass
Svend Palmqvist '1906-1984' for Orrefors, "Kraka" Art Glass Bowl
Located in København, Copenhagen
Svend Palmqvist (1906-1984) for Orrefors, "Kraka" art glass bowl in checkered blue pattern. Approx. 1950s. In perfect condition. Dimensions: L 16 x H 6.5 cm.
Art Glass
Ariel Bowl by Edvin Ohrstrom for Orrefors, Sweden, Signed on Underside
By Orrefors, Edvin Öhrström
Located in Kansas City, MO
Art Glass "Ariel" bowl by Edvin Ohrstrom for Orrefors. Signed on bottom. Excellent condition.
Art Glass
ca. 1970s Johan Wilhelm Johansson(1887-1977) design Art Glass bowl for Hadeland
By Hadeland
Located in Skien, NO
Norwegian Mid-century modern design art glass by Johan Wilhelm Johansson (1887 - 1977) for Hadeland Glass, circa 1970s. Signed "Hadeland" on the bottom. Johan Wilhelm Johansson is the father of the famous Norwegian art glass designer icon, Willy Johansson (1921 - 1993). Johan Wilhelm Johansson was the son of glass cutter Joacim Johansson, who came to Hadeland from Limmared in Sweden. The family had originally come from Bohemia to Sweden in the early 19th century. Wilhelm started working at the lodge early on and worked his way up until he became a master in 1927. In the 1930s, it was Wilhelm who executed the great masterpieces designed by Sverre Pettersen...
Art Glass
Faience Bowl by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful faience bowl with amazing geometric pattern. Designed by Stig Lindberg in Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s. Good condition (there is a small mark in the glaze shown in ...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Faience Bowl by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful faience bowl with amazing geometric pattern. Designed by Stig Lindberg in Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s. Excellent condition. Signed with the Gustavsberg studio hand...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Blue Bowl by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg Studio, Sweden, 1950s
By Wilhelm Kage, Gustavsberg
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful stoneware bowl with blue glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden. In production 1958-1962. Great condition, only a few light scratches. Impressed wit...
Ceramic, Stoneware
