About the Brand: Orrefors
Orrefors
Timeless Aesthetics, Innovative Craftsmanship, and Sustainable Quality
Orrefors' Heritage
Orrefors’ history is the story of how the simplest of raw materials—lime, sand, and soda—become magnificent glass objects. Initially fueled by the surrounding forests, it was the visionary artists who ultimately made Orrefors glass world-leading.
Glass jars for preservation were first manufactured in 19th-century Orrefors. When the social movements and the idea of "more beautiful everyday goods" took hold at the turn of the century, artists Edward Hald and Simon Gate were invited to the mill. Immediately, they created completely new objects with vibrant color and detailed engraving. The results quickly spread around the world via exhibitions, enhancing interiors as exquisite objects of use.
"Il n'y a que ça!" (This beats everything!)
— Proclaimed at the World Exhibition in Paris, 1925
More artists flocked to Orrefors; forms were refined and reconsidered. In the hot mass of glass, there are endless possibilities for those who master the skills. The glass created today is built upon knowledge generated over more than a hundred years. The very best designers now continue to enchant the world with the brilliance and beauty of glass.
Scandinavian Design Tradition
The history of the glass from Orrefors is still being written. Since 1898, Orrefors has been deeply rooted in a Scandinavian design tradition. Offering premium products designed for a discerning, design-interested audience, the glass and shape are always the focus—balancing simplicity, function, and elegance.
They create beautiful utility and art glass in the following core categories:
- Stemware & Barware
- Serveware
- Home Décor
Visionary Designers
Orrefors collaborates with a roster of distinguished artists to create their unique designs.
Gunnar Cyrén (1931–2013)
A Swedish glass artist, silversmith, and industrial designer, Cyrén studied in the metal department at one of Sweden's most prestigious art and design universities. Hired at Orrefors in 1959, he became head of design ten years later.
His major works include the Pop Glass collection from the 1960s and the legendary stemware in the Nobel set, designed for the Nobel Banquet in 1991. The Nobel collection is used at the annual banquet in Stockholm City Hall to this day and remains available in Orrefors’ assortment. Cyrén received numerous distinctions, including the Prince Eugen Medal from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and the Lunning Prize. In 1992, he was awarded the title of professor by the Swedish government.
Lena Bergström (b. 1961)
Born in Umeå, Bergström studied design in Japan, Finland, Belgium, and England, and holds a master’s degree in textiles from Konstfack in Stockholm. She began designing for Orrefors in 1994 while simultaneously developing her role as a textile designer.
Her work is represented at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Alongside winning around fifteen awards for her Orrefors glass designs, she has contributed to major interior projects, including Villa Björkholmen’s Crystal Bar in Stockholm, the crystal reception desk at Clarion Hotel Post in Gothenburg, and the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo.
Erika Lagerbielke (b. 1960)
Lagerbielke is an industrial designer and a professor in design at Linnaeus University in Växjö, Sweden, specializing in the artifacts and culture of the meal, dining environments, and the sustainable development of glass.
She began her collaboration with Orrefors in 1982 and had her major breakthrough with the Intermezzo collection in 1984. Her acclaimed special projects include the 2010 wedding gift to Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel Westling from the Swedish Parliament, and a special set for the Michelin-starred restaurant Operakällaren in 2020. A three-time winner of the Excellent Swedish Design award, her current Orrefors collections include Intermezzo, Difference, Metropol, Beer, Merlot, Enjoy, and More.
Sustainable Design
Orrefors' goal is to create timeless and elegant utility glass and interior design objects that last from generation to generation, just as they have since 1898. Orrefors glass is sustainable design that contributes to a more beautiful world.
All partners, inside and outside the EU, must follow a strict Code of Conduct. This ensures basic working conditions, the right to freely organize trade unions, minimum wage provisions, overtime pay, and working time restrictions. The code also strictly prohibits child labor and discrimination. To guarantee high quality and compliance, Orrefors visits their suppliers annually, the majority of which are located within the EU.
