Many Scandinavian designers used opaline in their creations in the mid-20th century, mainly in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Although the Scandinavian style is not traditionally linked to "French" opaline, several Nordic glassworks have worked with opaline or opaque glass in the spirit of modern Scandinavian design: sober, functional and refined.
History of Scandinavian Opaline
Key period: 1950–1970
This period marks the peak of modern Scandinavian design: minimalism, natural materials and functionality.
Nordic master glassmakers then explored the possibilities of opaline blown glass , often in soft, uniform shades, far removed from the opulence and bright colours of 19th-century French opalines.
Characteristics of Scandinavian opal glass
Scandinavian opalines share several distinctive features:
- Clean and geometric shapes
Cylinders, spheres, drops, cones — very little ornamental decoration
- Pastel and matte colors
Milky white, pearl gray, pale blue, sea green, powder pink
Homogeneous shades, often satin or lacquered
- Mouth-blown glass
Careful craftsmanship, with beautiful finishes and soft transparency
- Utilitarian and decorative design
Lighting fixtures (pendant lights, wall lights), vases, bowls, table lamps
Famous manufacturers and designers
Let's review the most famous manufacturers and the designers they worked with.
Suede
Orrefors , Alsterfors, LIndshammar, Ekenas, Elme, Ryd Glasbruk, Aseda and Kosta Boda
These iconic glassworks sometimes produced opaline pieces and collaborated with designers such as Vicke Lindstrand, Gunnar Wennerberg, Alf Wallander, Gunnar Ander and Erik Höglund.
Denmark
Holmegaard
This glassworks was founded in 1825 and was very active in the 50s and 70s. Their creations are highly sought after by collectors of 20th century design, largely for the creations of Per Lütken and his iconic bottles, but also the collection of opaline and cork boxes by Michael Bang.
Finland
Iittala
Considered the cult house of Finnish design and this is largely thanks to the creations of Aino and Alvar Aalto or Kaj Franck.
Why is this opaline so sought after?
Scandinavian opaline is now very popular with vintage design enthusiasts , particularly for:
- Its minimalist aesthetic
- Its artisanal quality
- Its natural integration into contemporary interiors
Holmegaard's opaline lamps or Kosta Boda's satin vases are key pieces on the vintage market, often visible at antique dealers or on platforms like Pamono , 1stdibs or Selency .
Beyond the opalines actually produced by Scandinavian manufacturers, some Italian, but also English and German glassmakers have produced pieces in the Scandinavian design line.