How to date Orrefors glass
Orrefors used different signature systems for different types of glass. In the following pages we have tried to give as much information on the different types of signatures and dating systems as possible. In no way does this list claim to be complete and 100% correct, but it should help to give you a good indication about the age of your glass. As we learn more about the different dating and signing systems in use, we will add these to our website.
Designer Signatures
Until 1980
A Olle Alberius
AS Asta Strömberg
B Gunnar Cyrén
C Anonymous
D Ingeborg Lundin
F Edvin Öhrström
FB Fritz Blomqvist
G Simon Gate
H Edvard Hald
HW Heinrich Wollmann
J Jan Johansson
K Henning Koppel
KB Knut Bergkvist
KD Fritz Kurz
L Vicke Lindstrand
N Nils Landberg
P Sven Palmqvist
R Carl Fagerlund
S John Selbing
T Lars Hellsten
V Eva Englund
From 1980 onward
OA Olle Alberius
AB Arne Branzell
AN Anne Nilsson
BJ Berit Johansson
EE Eva Englund
EH Edvard Hald
EL Erika Lagerbielke
EÖ Edvin Öhrström
GC Gunnar Cyrén
SG Simon Gate
HK Henning Koppel
IL Ingeborg Lundin
JJ Jan Johansson
JS John Selbing
KGT Klas-Göran Tinbäck
LH Lars Hellsten
NL Nils Landberg
SP Sven Palmqvist
VK Vicke Lindstrand
Orrefors Graal
The Orrefors Graal Glass went through several stages of development to get to the Graal technique that we are used to today. Basically, the first Graal pieces were developed at Orrefors in 1916, and the same technique was used until 1936. At the beginning of the 1930s, Edvard Hald and Vicke Lindstrand experimented with the Graal technique and came up with the “new” Graal method, which basically meant that the layer of clear glass that is applied is thicker. There are several numbering / codes systems that were used.
If you want to date your Orrefors Graal glass piece, follow this link to see all different Orrefors Graal glass numbering systems.
Orrefors Slip Graal (or Slipgraal)
The Slip Graal technique was developed in the late 1930s. In 1940, the technique got its own numbering system. Edvard Hald developed this technique further with Heinz Richter to form the Aquagraal technique. These vases did not have their own numbering system, but were included in the Orrefors Slipgraal serial number / date code system. Early Slip Graal pieces have the letter “S” in front of their serial / date code. From 1953 onward this letter was omitted, since the pieces were clearly marked Slipgraal anyway.
In order to date your Orrefors Slipgraal glass, follow this link where you can find all the date codes / serial numbers of the Orrefors Slip graal pieces.
Orrefors Ariel
Almost all well-known artists / designers at Orrefors worked in the Ariel technique. The most famous pieces by Edvin Ohrstrom, Ingeborg Lundin, Vicke Lindstrand, Olle Alberius, and Lars Hellsten are Ariel pieces. All Ariel pieces are signed with the artists name and a serial number / date code which allows to exactly date the piece. Early pieces had the production date mentioned seperately on them.
If you want to date your Orrefors Ariel piece, you can find all the information on the Orrefors Ariel coding system here.
Orrefors Kraka
Sven Palmqvist inveted the Kraka technique in 1944. Early Kraka pieces were mostly of a single color, white being the most prevalent. Orrefors produced Kraka glass pieces until 1986. From 1960 until 1986 several models were mass-produced. Palmqvist himself produced Kraka pieces until 1972. We have all the date codes and serial numbers that enable you to date your Orrefors Kraka piece.
If you want to date your Orrefore Kraka piece, you can find all the information on the Orrefors Kraka date codes and serial numbers here.
Orrefors Ravenna
Apart from the Kraka technique, Sven Palmqvist also invented the Ravenna technique for Orrefors. He produced Ravenna pieces himself until 1981, but Orrefors continued to mass-produce certain Ravenna models until 1989. We have collected all the date codes, serial and model numbers that enable you to date your Orrefors Ravenna piece.
If you want to date your Orrefors Ravenna piece, you can find all the information on the Orrefors Ravenna date codes and serial numbers here.
Other pieces
Since 1935 a combination of a letter and a number is used for dating. It was first used exclusively for cut glass, but later was used in a broader sense.
A1 1935
A2 1936
A3 1937
A4 1938
A5 1939
A6 1940
A7 1941
A8 1942
A9 1943
B1 1944
B2 1945
B3 1946
B4 1947
B5 1948
B6 1949
B7 1950
B8 1951
B9 1952
C1 1953
C2 1954
C3 1955
C4 1956
C5 1957
C6 1958
C7 1959
C8 1960
C9 1961
D1 1962
D2 1963
D3 1964
D4 1965
D5 1966
D6 1967
D7 1968
D8 1969
D9 1970
E1 1971
E2 1972
E3 1973
E4 1974
E5 1975
E6 1976
E7 1977
E8 1978
E9 1979
F1 1980
F2 1981
F3 1982
F4 1983
F5 1984