Collection: Brand: Orrefors

The Orrefors glassworks produce in 20th century iconic art crystal items and tableware. Orrefors designers such as Vicke Lindstrand and Sven Palmqvist were ones of founders for mid-century modernist style in crystal and glass

Established in 1898 in Småland’s renowned “Kingdom of Crystal,” Orrefors evolved from making windowpane and bottle glass into a prestigious art-crystal producer. Its breakthrough arrived at the 1925 Paris Expo, where engraved Orrefors pieces received top honors and secured international attention.

Experimentation & Groundbreaking Techniques

During the late 1920s and ’30s, artists like Vicke Lindstrand and Edward Hald pioneered decorative methods at Orrefors. Lindstrand introduced enameled thick-walled vases, while Hald and Lindstrand together developed the Graal and Ariel techniques, innovations that embedded air, color or etched designs within the glass rather than just on the surface.

Mid-Century Modernism

From the 1940s to ’60s, Sven Palmqvist refined internal-decor techniques with Kraka, Ravenna and the centrifuge-based Fuga: each creating layered textures and bubble effects prized for their visual complexity. Designers like Nils Landberg added sculptural elegance with his long-stem Tulip vases, while Gunnar Cyrén’s bold “Pop Glass” epitomized the 1960s spirit.

Legacy & Continuing Influence

Though the original Orrefors factory closed in 2012, the brand lives on within Orrefors Kosta Boda. Its collections remain staples in museums like Stockholm’s National Museum and New York’s MoMA. The Graal, Ariel, Kraka and Tulip lines continue to be seen as hallmark achievements in Scandinavian crystal art, confirmed by their enduring presence and high esteem among collectors.