Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Mälardalen
Above left: Fiore glasses designed by Margareta Hennix. Right: Christening gift to Princess Estelle, designed by Margareta Hennix.
Mouth-blown glass for 200 years and counting The idea was that Ulf Ericsson would retire, having worked as CEO of several listed Swedish companies like the porcelain, glassware and cutlery group Upsala-Ekeby and computer businesses Datatronic and Victor Technologies. But then he was asked to take on the revival of the old glass factory in Reijmyre, and over one decade later, he is still active as the main owner and chairman of the board of the second oldest glass factory that is still in use in Sweden. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Reijmyre Glasbruk
You may have come across the limited edition pinstripe Absolut bottles, and if you have dined at Stockholm’s renowned Operakällaren, you have eaten off plates and drunk out of glasses designed especially for them. Both designs, as well as the famous Rubin glass by Monica Bratt, belong to the award-winning contemporary part of the over 200-year-old Reijmyre tradition. Having been one of the main attractions of Sweden’s Östergötland alongside Kolmården wildlife park, Reijmyre saw its number of visitors decline back in the 1980s, with the devastating fire at the local inn
becoming the nail in the coffin. But together with the county board and Finspång local council, Ericsson has managed to turn things around, with new production facilities and an outstanding restaurant in a restored building from the early 1900s. Of the nearby glass factories in Småland, he says: “If they’re the belly, we’re the head, only a two-hour drive from Stockholm. And this is a more intimate experience: you get right into the heat and can see exactly what glass blowing is like.” In addition, a museum demonstrates the entire production process from start to fin-
ish, and the big, modern factory shop overlooks the production in action. With award-winning glassware by designers like Margareta Hennix and Richard Juhlin, Reijmyre Glasbruk is still very much a vibrant stronghold of the mouthand hand-blowing glass making tradition. Having celebrated its 200th birthday in 2010 and won a coveted Hagdahlsakademien award this year, it seems the glory days are far from over. The now 25 permanent employees may sound modest compared to the crowd of 350 at the turn of the century, but that is still a 25% increase since the lowest point. “The factory is at the very heart of the village and always open to visitors. Reijmyre keeps the cultural heritage of the mouth- and handblowing tradition alive,” says Ericsson. For more information, please visit: www.reijmyre.se
Left: Production of a serving plate, designed by Monica Bratt, and below: the finished plate
Issue 41 | June 2012 | 35