Where our glass comes from

AO Glass imports a raw lead-free crystal glass batch from the famous glass-blowing region of Sweden, where Tove Ohlander grew up. It was developed by the Swedish Glass Institute and used in the finest crystal glasshouses in Europe, including Orrefors and Kosta Boda. It is highly refractive with brilliant clarity. It also is durable and tolerates dishwashing well. It arrives pelletized and then is heated to 2350 degrees Fahrenheit in our furnaces for 15 hours, ready to be used by our glassblowers the next day. 

Our colored glasses are made in one of two factories supplying colored glass to studios and factories worldwide. Using various metal oxides, we have access to an extensive palette of colors to meet the needs of our artists and lighting clients. 

We firmly believe in conserving the limited resources in creating our glasswork. We recycle much of our glass waste and believe that bubbles and other slight inclusions in the glass are a mark of its artisan authenticity. 

We are a leader in the preservation of glass knowledge, not only in the hand shaping techniques but in renewing the technology needed to melt and work glass efficiently. Much has been lost in the previous decades, and with our network of makers, customers, and equipment fabricators, we are keeping the traditions alive and growing.