Orrefors
A fascinating story created over a century
by Maria Lantz
The history of Orrefors is a fascinating story of how world-class craftsmanship and excellence have emerged from deep within the southern Swedish forests . It is also a story of people , their dreams and struggles , and of how nature , technology and culture interact in the effort to achieve the perfect result : light , heavy , clear , reflective , opaque and sheer glass .
The beauty and quality of glass is continuously reviewed , improved and refined – and the possibilities are endless . This glass is far from a final chapter , and its history is being written in this very moment .
A melting pot How did Orrefors achieve such renown all over the world ? How could glass be so advanced here – so far north , in the heart of the lush , green forest ?
To understand , we must look back in time . The foundation was laid in eighteenth- and nineteenth century Småland : innovations in glass manufacturing , international contacts , social and political movements … all of these elements are part of the glassworks ’ history , and so is the arrival of the artists in the twentieth century . Without them , Orrefors would not have been able to keep up with the competition or become the success it continues to be today . But the roots go deeper still . The glass we call “ Swedish ” is a fascinating result of relationships with people , with a faraway world , and with the local area , where nature is playing a key role .
Glass moves north – 13th century In Venice , knowledge of glass came from Constantinople , Italy and Spain . They found that the sand in the Po river could be used for manufacturing and for a long time , Venice was the capital city of European glass , together with Bohemia , Germany . Glass objects became important export products for both cities . Obtaining completely clear glass was still difficult , but when successful , people could make perfect mirrors , which were used
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