Ljuset från mörkaste Småland - Orrefors belysningsarmaturer under åren 1916 – 1949

Sammanfattning: The Light from darkest Småland Lighting products from Orrefors during the period 1916 – 1949 The Light from darkest Småland (a region in southern Sweden where Orrefors is located) aims to take a closer look at the lighting production at Orrefors glass works during the period from 1916, when artist Simon Gate was employed as Orrefors’ first artistic advisor, to 1949 when the transition from an experi¬mental activity where lighting products were produced as art glass to an industrial production can be considered as complete. The three main topics that this bachelor’s thesis covers are (i) the general deve¬lopment of the lighting production at Orrefors during the period, (ii) what main internal and external factors that can be identified as drivers for this development, and (iii) what signs that can be found in the products themselves that illustrate these drivers. After a brief background and introduction, the lighting production is described and contextualised in one chapter per decade, where both internal and external factors are taken into consideration (such as Swedish history of style and home decoration, and also technical innovations). In addition, two key Orrefors lightning products per decade are described in more detail. In its final chapter, the thesis draws conclusions from the previous chapters and points to the need for further research into the area of Orrefors’ lighting products, which to date barely been researched at all.