Our Scandinavian - American background and design aesthetic is always present at AO Glass. Here is a story that really help cement our place as keepers of the trade, Scandinavian culture, and American manufacturing.

Jenny Lind was a Swedish opera singer called the "Swedish Nightingale." She was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, performing as a soprano in operas in Sweden and across Europe, and she undertook an extraordinarily popular concert tour of the United States beginning in 1850.

When AO Glass purchased our 1880s side-arm glass press, the “101,” it was delivered with a test mold for our glassblowers to use in refining their glass-pressing technique. The mold was stamped with the words “Jenny Lind” and according to our research it was originally created as a custard bowl in the honor of singer. It turns out it’s also useful as a snack bowl and a tealight candle holder. It features an intricate 3-dimensional design that emulates cut crystal.

Pressed glass is a form of glass made by pressing molten glass into a mold using a plunger. It was first patented by American inventor John P. Bakewell in 1825 to make knobs for furniture. The technique was also developed in Europe — particularly France, Bohemia, and Sweden — from the 1830s. By the mid-19th century, most inexpensive mass-produced glassware was pressed.

The Jenny Lind bowl was produced in the 1950s, just around the time that American glass-pressing was starting to wind down. What was once a booming industry of 400+ press factories in the US dwindled to just a handful of remaining shops. AO Glass is honored to bring this piece of history back into production.

What are some of the best uses for our vintage design glass bowls? Glass is a great material for a feeling of luxury at breakfast or sophistication for your olives at happy hour. Simply showing off what beautiful nourishment that a transparent vessel can hold. Glass is also the perfect material for candlelight to shimmer and shine to make magic in any room.

Jenny Lind & scandinavian -american manufacturing