Strömbergshyttan

Strömbergshyttan glassworks is synonymous with mid-century Swedish glass. Founded in 1876, it was originally named ‘Lindefors’ and later became known as Strömbergshyttan in 1933 once the husband-and-wife duo, Edvard and Gerda Strömberg, took over operations. Although the glassworks had suffered greatly during the Great Depression, the Strömbergs were able to turn the situation around and would become the eventual owners.

Edvard, who had previously worked at Kosta, Orrefors and Eda glassworks, bought with him a new team of skilled glassblowers – including the master glassblower Knut Bergqvist. Gerda took on the role as designer and together they were able to establish a solid foundation after a difficult period of financial uncertainty. Notably, Gerda Strömberg was already a household name by 1933 but it was her work at Strömbergshyttan that cemented her position as an internationally recognised designer. Her minimal and functional forms would set the tone of what would follow.

After Edvard’s death, the management of the glassworks was taken over by his son Erik and later by Erik’s wife – the famous Asta Strömberg, who would make a big name for herself as a designer also. She is renowned for her solid thick-walled handblown forms, geometrical shapes of cut crystal and silver-blue tinted glass. The Sputnik and Diamond series were two of her most successful and are still in demand today.

In addition to Asta’s work, the prominent artist Gunnar Nylund was also responsible for bringing the glassworks to the forefront of mid-century art glass design. Active from 1954 to 1967 as Artistic Director, Nylund created an array of solid handblown form’s with beautiful coloured underlays. The Shark Tooth series is one of his most popular and sought after.

The company remained in the Strömberg family until it was bought by Orrefors in 1976. Today, Strömbergshyttan’s pieces can be found in many museum collections, including the Swedish National Museum of Art & Design, the Met in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The photo above is of a Strömbergshyttan glass art exhibition at Smålands Museum in 1957. It was taken by Jan Erik Anderbjörk.