Sculptural Glass Centerpiece Bowl by Olle Alberius - Orrefors
This is a studio expo item from Orrefors glassmaker Olle Alberius. It measures about 10"T and 10.75" wide - my parents purchased it on one of their many trips to Sweden - they were big fans of this particular glassmaker. It is in pristine condition, no chips or anything. A few faint surface scratches to the bottom from shelf wear. Likely purchased in the late 1970's, early 1980's. Has these really vibrant green inclusions and leaf engravings. It is quite heavy and signed by artist on the bottom - photos are difficult to take as there is a lot of glare but I believe it reads: "Orrefors Expo A 619-77 Olle Alberius". Curious to know the story behind it as well as value in the market - my father was always convinced that this piece would be worth a lot more than he paid for it one day, but I'm not sure how this particular artist's pieces are valuing. I can't seem to find any comparable items.
10 x 10.75
Inherited
Yes
Hi Louisa,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
The Orrefors website has a small blurb on Olle Alberius (Swedish, 1926-1933), noting he was "one of the known representatives of the illustrious Swedish ceramic design of the 20th century. He was one of the leading designers for the Rorstrand factory in the 1960s. Alberius is represented at the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design."
Additionally, the website for the Minneapolis Institute of Art cites "A gifted former ceramic designer for Rörstrand pottery, Olle Alberius came to Orrefors in 1971, and is known for utilizing numerous techniques, including ariel, Ravenna, and graal, though crystal was a favorite medium. He often designed commemorative sculptures and awards, and Scandinavia Today is an example of the former. A stylized flower form that has also been likened to organ pipes, the sculpture was commissioned in 1982 by Dayton's Department Store (now Marshall Field's) for a festival of the same name. Alberius worked closely with the grinder during the painstaking three-day period in which the form emerged from the crystal block. This reductive sculpting process is uncommon in glass but lends appropriate weight and mass to large-scale sculptures such as Alberius'.
There have been several identical examples of this glass bowl by Alberius that have sold at auction, all in Europe, where they typically sell for between € 300 and € 500 ($350-$575).
For a virtually identical example, see https://www.bukowskis.com/en/auctions/644/151-olle-alberius-a-glass-bowl-orrefors-sweden-1978, which was the second time the auction house offered it (when they offered it initially it was estimated too high and did not sell).
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
Olle Alberius for Orrefors
Green Leaf centerpiece bowl
Inscribed along the bottom "Orrefors Expo A 619-77 Olle Alberius"
10 by 10-3/4 inches
CONDITION: this bowl appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$350-575*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
