Kingdom of Crystal

Road sign, tourism information on the Kingdom of Crystal

The so-called Kingdom of Glass ( Swedish glasriket ) in south-east Sweden in the historic province of Småland is a center of glass art . The city of Växjö in the west of the Kingdom of Crystal with its glass museum is considered the capital . Small places dominated by a local glassworks such as Kosta , Orrefors , Nybro or Lessebo as well as its coniferous forests rich in game and countless lakes rich in fish are also characteristic of the Kingdom of Crystal .

The first glassworks in Småland was built around 1628, when Karl Karlsson Gyllenhielm (half-brother King Gustav II. Adolf ) the glassblower Paul Gaukunkel from Germany or the Netherlands took to the raw materials of Småland to use, ideal for glass production (have included Quartz sand and firewood ). In the course of time, more than 100 glass-blowing factories were built, of which 14 still exist and can be visited today. There are also a number of smaller studio glassworks run by one or more artists.

To this day, glass from the Kingdom of Crystal is associated with typical Swedish design . In addition to glass for use (drinking glasses, vases, etc.), art objects are also manufactured in many glassworks.

The most famous glassworks (today part of a group) are Kosta-Boda and Orrefors . Kosta-Boda, founded in 1742, is the oldest active hut today. Orrefors (founded in 1898) is known for its innovative new glass techniques, for example Graal .

In Orrefors is the Riksglasskolan , the internationally renowned school for training glassblowers, glass artists and entrepreneurs in this branch. Mostly Scandinavian students study at the school, but the training is open worldwide.

tourism

The Kingdom of Crystal is a popular destination. Since 2000, a tourism company of eleven glassworks has been looking after the extensive range of offers. In almost every glassworks in the Kingdom of Crystal it is possible to watch the glassblowers at work. In addition to the factory outlet, many huts also offer typical food under the name “Hyttsill” (Swedish sill = herring ) in summer . This is usually consumed together in a large company after work. At Hyttsill, food is prepared in the hut ovens, which are still warm from work.