Orrefors
"Water Games" 'Ariel' Glass Vase

Swedish, circa 1953
Height: 8 1/4 inches (21 centimeters)

Rare Orrefors 'Ariel' glass vase from 'Water Games' series, the elongated form with irregular rim in clear and blue glass surrounding anthropomorphic figures, designed by Ohrstrom, signed and with date code.

The Swedish firm, Orrefors Glassworks, founded in 1898, named one of their glassmaking techniques “Ariel” after the air spirit in Shakespeare's play “The Tempest.” Orrefors “Ariel” technique was developed in 1936 and was achieved by trapping air within the walls of the glass. “Ariel” glass is closely related to the “Graal” technique which was first introduced at Orrefors in 1916.

In “The Tempest,” the spirit Ariel is trapped in a “cloven pine” and is later freed and bound to serve the magician Prospero. The central layer of air evokes Ariel’s character as a sylph. The artists Gustav Bergkvist, Vicke Lindstrand and Edvin Öhrström created the technique for the firm.

Swedish, circa 1953
Height: 8 1/4 inches (21 centimeters)

Rare Orrefors 'Ariel' glass vase from 'Water Games' series, the elongated form with irregular rim in clear and blue glass surrounding anthropomorphic figures, designed by Ohrstrom, signed and with date code.

The Swedish firm, Orrefors Glassworks, founded in 1898, named one of their glassmaking techniques “Ariel” after the air spirit in Shakespeare's play “The Tempest.” Orrefors “Ariel” technique was developed in 1936 and was achieved by trapping air within the walls of the glass. “Ariel” glass is closely related to the “Graal” technique which was first introduced at Orrefors in 1916.

In “The Tempest,” the spirit Ariel is trapped in a “cloven pine” and is later freed and bound to serve the magician Prospero. The central layer of air evokes Ariel’s character as a sylph. The artists Gustav Bergkvist, Vicke Lindstrand and Edvin Öhrström created the technique for the firm.

Swedish, circa 1953
Height: 8 1/4 inches (21 centimeters)

Rare Orrefors 'Ariel' glass vase from 'Water Games' series, the elongated form with irregular rim in clear and blue glass surrounding anthropomorphic figures, designed by Ohrstrom, signed and with date code.

The Swedish firm, Orrefors Glassworks, founded in 1898, named one of their glassmaking techniques “Ariel” after the air spirit in Shakespeare's play “The Tempest.” Orrefors “Ariel” technique was developed in 1936 and was achieved by trapping air within the walls of the glass. “Ariel” glass is closely related to the “Graal” technique which was first introduced at Orrefors in 1916.

In “The Tempest,” the spirit Ariel is trapped in a “cloven pine” and is later freed and bound to serve the magician Prospero. The central layer of air evokes Ariel’s character as a sylph. The artists Gustav Bergkvist, Vicke Lindstrand and Edvin Öhrström created the technique for the firm.