Svenskt Tenn cares about the environment and sustainability, and the classic glass items in its range are no exception. Reijmyre Glassorks in Östergötland uses glass from completely lead-free crystal. The furnaces used in the production process are electric, environmentally friendly and energy efficient and do not emit nitrogen oxide or carbon dioxide. The glassworks only uses electricity from water and wind power, and all glass that is discarded is melted and used again. Waste such as corrugated board and other combustibles are sorted and sent for recycling.

Purchasing Swedish glass cuts down on transport distances, helping to avoid a heavy climate impact, and by producing timeless products of high quality and a long service life, we are taking efforts not waste the earth’s resources. Classic glass objects are rarely thrown away. Instead, they are preserved throughout the years and can be resold or passed down as gifts to the next generation.

How pressed glass is made at the Reijmyre glassworks in Östergötland

When manufacturing pressed glass, it’s possible to obtain detailed relief on the surface of the glass which is not possible in the case of mouthblown glass. The work begins with the glass mass being melted in the furnace overnight. The glass melter increases the temperature of the furnaces to 1400°C and shovels in quantities of glass which are then melted under careful supervision. Towards morning, the temperature is lowered so that the glass mass goes down to a work temperature of 1100°C when the glassblowers begin their workday at 6am.

The manufacturing process now begins in the blowing room. The glassblower captures a piece of glass on what is referred to as a glass scoop, an iron rod with a large iron sphere at one end. After that, the pressing master takes and cuts exactly the right amount of glass mass in the iron mould before pressing starts and the glass is pressed out. These moments are among the most difficult in the process and those that require the greatest experience and craftsmanship. The right quantity of glass mass must be captured and cut without glass bubbles, slippages or other errors occurring, something that can only be done by hand and with the correct feel for the craft.

Once the glass has cooled to approximately 650°C it can be lifted from the mould to a table where two glassblowers polish the object with a gas flame, making it neat and shiny. After that, the object is moved to a cooling oven where the temperature is gradually reduced from 500°C to room temperature, which takes approximately six hours.

Once the glass is cold it’s time for finishing and quality control. The few finished products with glass defects or other defects are removed and subsequently melted down to be included in the process once again. The remainder are engraved with Svensk Tenn’s logo in the base, cleaned and checked a final time before being finally packaged and sent to Svensk Tenn. Slight seams or stripes are sometimes seen on end products, which should be regarded as signs of the artisanal production.

Examples of objects manufactured in this way include Josef Frank’s oval dish, Kina Glass bowls, the Hortus pot as well as the Jardiniere of the same series.