Graal glass vase by Edward Hald, Orrefors Sweden, 1964
Graal glass vase by Edward Hald, Orrefors Sweden, 1964
A museum level piece. Vintage glass vase made in the renowned Swedish glassmaking technique, Graal. Designed by Edward Hald, one of the pioneers of the Graal technique.
Made at Orrefors glassworks in 1964, this piece is signed by the designer. Dimensions: Height 8 cm, Diameter 18 cm. Signed: "Orrefors 242 v Edward Hald." Excellent vintage condition.
Each Graal glass creation by Hald is highly collectible and sought after by collectors and glass admirers worldwide.
Why buy vintage glass in Graal technique?
Graal glass emerged at Orrefors in the 1910s as a groundbreaking technique that took traditional overlay glass to an entirely new level. Unlike standard methods where decorative layers are applied and then etched, Graal involved encasing painted or engraved motifs within layers of glass and then re-blowing the form. This gave the images a unique sense of depth and motion, as if they were suspended inside the glass: mysterious, fluid and alive.
The technique was the result of collaboration between master glassblower Knut Bergqvist and artist Simon Gate. Its poetic name was inspired by Gustaf Fröding’s writing, referencing the legendary Grail as a vessel of mystical luminosity. First showcased publicly in 1916, the technique marked a turning point in Swedish art glass and laid the foundation for future innovation, including contributions by Edward Hald, who soon became a central figure in Orrefors’s creative evolution.
Why buy vintage glass by Edward Hald?
Edward Hald was one of the founders for modern glass in the beginnig of the 20th century. His pieces are on permanent display in a various museums, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), the National Museum of Sweden, the Småland Museum, and others.
“Simon Gate and Edward Hald created the first modern art glass, and initiated an era that lives on to this day. This is particularly evident when today's designers apply the techniques introduced by Gates and Hald in the 1910's and 1920's. In addition, many of their productions are now living classics, partly because the truly beautiful always survives, but also because techniques based on skill and experience never become outdated".
Source: Hernmarck, Carl; Lundquist, Birger. Orrefors glasbruk 1951.
