The Day of Waffles

In Sweden, the day of Annunciation is called Marie Bebådelsedag, (Mary’s Annunciation), or Vårfrudagen (the Day of our Lady). Vårfrudagen pronounced quickly became Våffeldagen, meaning Waffle Day, and all of a sudden this Christian celebration became a very secular waffle feast instead. At least that is the commonly accepted theory. 

Waffles came to Sweden from Germany during the 17th century and have been enjoyed by Swedes ever since. Considering how expensive a waffle iron was in the olden days it remained a treat for the upper class for a very long time. 

The first time waffles became associated with Annunciation was in 1867, in the region surrounding Gothenburg. It seems to have been a bit of a joke connecting the two, even from the beginning and the rather more plausible reason for the waffle feast was that it was a holiday and during holidays everyone tends to treat themselves to something nice.

Sixten Sason is one of Sweden’s most recognized industrial designers, mostly known for his streamlined designs for the Saab 92 and Saab 99. He also made several products for the kitchen ware company Husqvarna, amongst others the Waffle Iron, designed in 1957. 

Swedish Glass Design At Its Best

The world famous Orrefors Glassworks started in 1898 replacing an iron works from 1726 in the small village of Orrefors in the middle of the great woodlands of Småland in the south of Sweden.

In 1913 the glassworks were bought by Johan Ekman and Orrefors started producing cut crystal and advanced artful glass using overlay technique with etched decor. It didn’t take the management long to realize they needed artists and designers as well as great craftsmanship. Just three years after acquiring the factory two Swedish design legends were hired, Simon Gate in 1916 and Edward Hald in 1917.

The two artists started almost immediately to work with advanced engravings and creating glass with the Graal technique, developed by Orrefors’s master glassblower Knut Bergqvist. The Graal technique means that a colored layer of glass is encased by a transparent layer. The glass is let to cool down before being engraved or etched, then reheated and blown into its final shape.

The designs were so successful that both Gate, Hald and Orrefors were awarded the Grand Prix during the Paris Exhibition in 1925.

The same year, after finishing design school in Gothenburg, a future master in glass design, Nils Landberg was recommended to start studying engraving in Orrefors. Two years later he became part of the glassworks team, first as an engraver but in 1936 he became a designer in his own right. Undoubtedly his most famous designs are the Tulip vases from the 1950s made in a vast number of sizes, shapes and colors. These vases earned him the gold medal at the Trienniale di Milano in 1957.

Orrefors has kept finding incredible designers over the years making the company and Swedish glass known all over the world.