1825
Holmegaard opens as Denmark’s first real glassworks. Production starts on 5 November and consists exclusively of packaging bottles in green glass.
Reflections in glass
Holmegaard history – Founded by a woman who was ahead of her time
With a long and proud tradition of glass production since 1825, Holmegaard is a Danish design icon and one of the most recognised names in Scandinavian craftsmanship traditions. Holmegaard’s cultural heritage is more than just a tale of quality craftsmanship over time. Holmegaard builds on the heritage of a remarkable woman who was ahead of her time – Countess Henriette Danneskiold-Samsøe – who not only pursued her late husband’s dream of creating a glasswork by Holmegaard marsh, but who also managed to transform it into ab artistic and aesthetic house that is still relevant today.
High-quality glass
Holmegaard produces both mouth-blown and machine-blown glass using the latest and most advanced production methods. Whether it’s mouth-blown or machine-made glass, Holmegaard always represents high quality and elegant design. Each piece of mouth-blown glass is unique and handmade by the glassblower, who carefully blows the right amount of air through the narrow pipe. Mouth blown glass from Holmegaard is known on the swan logo.
However, machine-blown glass does not mean glass produced without hard work. To ensure glass of the same high quality and elegance as mouth-blown glass, the machine-blown glass must go through an advanced production method that requires specially manufactured tools and high precision. Machine production is not just an automatic process that runs on rails. Machine workers work between glass spraying and noisy machines to ensure everything rotates, opens, closes, heats up, cools down, cuts and grinds at just the right time.
The story behind Holmegaard
Henriette Danneskiold-Samsøe (born Kaas) is born into a large noble family in Copenhagen. She meets and falls in love with the young Count on Gisselfeld, Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe, and they get married.
Holmegaards Glasværk's history begins in 1823, when Count Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe applies to the Danish king to build a glassworks in Holmegaard marsh. But in 1823, the Count dies without receiving a reply to his application, and his widow Henriette is left with six children. When Henriette receives the King’s permission to construct the glassworks shortly after her husband’s death, she decides to continue the project.
Love of glass art
So in 1825 she founded Holmegaard Glasværk, and a small community of schools, good homes and market-based businesses began to grow. The glassworks was built on the marshland, because this location could provide the amount of fuel needed for the glass ovens’ high temperatures, and in 1825 the first production of Holmegaard Glasværk began. In the beginning, the glassworks only produces green bottles, but Henriette also wants to produce clear drinking glasses. Bohemian glassmakers are hired for the job as they are possess the fine craftsmanship skills required to do this.
Henriette becomes one of Denmark’s first female business leaders. And based on her correspondence with Hans Christian Andersen and other famous names, a picture of a very gifted, socially responsible and driven woman begins to emerge.
Up until 1831, Holmegaard worked with one stove, and only bottles were manufactured, but from 1832, household glass and later artificial and industrial glass were also produced.
From small glass workshops to the modern group
Holmegaard joined Royal Copenhagen in 1985 (since Royal Scandinavia), but in 2008 Holmegaard was taken over by Rosendahl Design Group. The old glassworks building in Holmegaard came under compulsory auction in March 2010 and was taken over by Sparekassen Faaborg.
Holmegaard Glasværk’s history is a story about a couple of small glass workshops in a peat marsh, which over the course of 190 years would become a large, modern group. In 1906, Svend Hammershøi designed the wine glass series that became the first design from Holmegaard Glasværk. This marked the start of bringing other artists in to design and shape Holmegaard’s glassware. In 1928, Jacob E. Bang was employed as Holmegaard’s first designer and he created the JEB 65 vase. And from the 1940s, Per Lütken breathed life into more than 3,000 glass designs.
Today, we can look back at the many different designers and artists who have helped ensure Holmegaard’s development. And we are continuing the long and proud tradition, which means that to this day some of Denmark’s best artists are associated with Holmegaard’s glass production.
Holmegaard’s historic timeline
1847
A new glasswork, Kastrup Glasværk, is constructed. The aim is to feed coal via the sea and to get closer to the Copenhagen market.
1906
The painter and ceramicist Svend Hammershøi designs the Margrethe wine glass series, which will be the first design from Holmegaard Glasværk.
1918
Holmegaard opens its first store in Nyhavn 12, Copenhagen.
1923
Holmegaard Glasværk enters into a contract with The Royal Porcelain Factory to produce service glass. The Knipling glass series is designed by Porcelain Factory artist Oluf Jensen.
1928
Jacob E. Bang is employed as Holmegaard’s first designer and creates the JEB 65 vase.
1942
Per Lütken breathes life into more than 3,000 glass designs during his time at Holmegaard Glasværk. His greatest icons, the Provence Bowl, Idéelle, the Selandia dish, Charlotte Amalie and No. 5 are still produced today.
1969
Michael Bang, son of Jacob E. Bang is employed by Holmegaard and creates the Fontaine series, which is glass in new, exciting shapes.
1970
Holmegaard opens a store in Østergade 15, Copenhagen.
1974
Holmegaard Glasværk opens an experimental glassworks for artists who want to become acquainted with the art of glass making
1977
Kastrup Glasværk closes and the company’s name changes to Holmegaard Glasværk A/S.
1985
Holmegaard Glasværk and The Royal Porcelain Manufactory merge, and the new company is named Royal Copenhagen A/S. Carlsberg actively enters as an investor.
1997
Peter Svarrer is associated with Holmegaard and regularly designs the Cocoon, Future, Northern Lights, Reflections, Carbernet and Bouquet glass series.
2004
Holmegaard Glasværk is taken over by an investor group consisting of Holmegaard’s CEO Peter Normann Nielsen and developer and director Steen Gude.
2006
Holmegaard launches the Minima glass series in collaboration with award-winning designer Cecilie Manz. That same year, the Perfection series is launched, designed by Tom Nybroe.
2007
The Flora series, designed by Louise Campbell, is launched.
2008
Rosendahl Design Group purchases the rights to Holmegaard. This acquisition ensures that the 183-year-old company, which started at a peat marshland in Holmegaard, can live on and be revitalised.
2010
Rosendahl Design Group donates Holmegaard Glasværk’s Sample Collection of approx. 40,000 glasses to the Næstved Museum. Today, the sample collection is part of the glass collection exhibited at Holmegaard Værk.
2011
Holmegaard and designer Maria Berntsen launch the series Design with Light.
2015
Holmegaard’s 190th anniversary. This year, the Old English series is launched in collaboration with flower expert Claus Dalby.
2017
Crosses vases designed by Bodil Kjær are relaunched.
2018
Jacob E. Bang’s Primrose vase, with the original design from 1936–1938, is relaunched. The Regina series, an original design by Anja Kjær from 1992, is also relaunched.
2019
Relaunch of Stub glass, designed by Grethe Meyer and Ibi Trier Mørch.
2020
Flow, a series of coloured mouth-blown glass, is launched. Jette Frölich decorates Holmegaard Christmas bottle number 40 since the first bottle was launched in 1981. The Souvenir Christmas series, designed by Meyer-Lavigne, is launched. Holmegaard Værk reopens in a historic fusion between past and future. Read more and buy tickets on the museum’s own website.
2021
Launch of Forma, designed by Linnea Blæhr and Laura Bilde. The series is nominated for the Design of the Year category for the Design Awards 2021. The Provence bowl is hand-blown as a special edition at Holmegaard Værk in Næstved. Special production is launched under the Holmegaard Archives concept.
A burning passion for glass art
Holmegaard’s story begins in 1825 with a strong woman ahead of her time, who went against the conventions of the era and started her own glassworks. Based on curiosity and craftsmanship, we see classic Danish glass design as an artistic combination of shapes and colours, where anything is possible.
Holmegaard is as relevant today as it was in its early days – created with an eye for both function and decor and a burning passion for our heritage and craftsmanship.
Holmegaard is as relevant today as it was in its early days – created with an eye for both function and decor and a burning passion for our heritage and craftsmanship.
Holmegaard is a reflection in glass
Holmegaard is a world of glass, where original designs and excellent craftsmanship are at the heart of all the classics we know and admire. When we create beautiful and elegant glass products that radiate quality and style, we are building on 200 years of proud, hand-blown craftsmanship traditions. Glass designs that inspire reflection.
In the many beautiful glass designs we produce, we always try to push the boundaries of what is possible with glass. Glass has a unique ability to capture and reflect light. Holmegaard’s unique glass designs both play with the light and create optical effects that often reflect the thoughts our designers had when devising their designs.
This is evident in designs such as the Provence bowl, where the light shape, thick base and round edges spread light and colour throughout the bubble. For example, the Provence bowl is available in a pink base colour with small glass confetti in white and mint that melts in the glass mass and spreads randomly around the bowl. This makes each mouth-blown bowl unique, with the amount confetti and it's distribution pattern varying from bowl to bowl.
A rich history of the best designers
Holmegaard stands for modern glass designs made to be used and enjoyed every day. To achieve this goal, we work with some of the best glass designers who experiment with technology, shape and materials. The result is unique designs that will last far into the future. Designs that are not only beautiful to look at, but which are also made for everyday use.
Here you can read about some of the most important designers in Holmegaard’s history.
Meet the designers
Jacob E. Bang – The first Holmegaard designer
Since Jacob E. Bang became the first Holmegaard designer in the 1920s, our concept has been based on strong design and craftsmanship traditions. Jacob E. Bang was actually an architect, but after working at the glassworks, he shifted his focus to industrial design.
That is why Bang is today known as Denmark’s first industrial designer and the creator of functionalism in Danish glass. His design mantra was “beautiful, strong, practical and inexpensive,” and it was these words that helped to underpin Holmegaard’s vision. “Every Dane should have a Holmegaard glass.”
During his time at the glassworks, he designed several products that have now become collector’s items, including the Violet series and the Primrose series, which are designed with a beautiful optical pattern that creates a unique play in the glass.
That is why Bang is today known as Denmark’s first industrial designer and the creator of functionalism in Danish glass. His design mantra was “beautiful, strong, practical and inexpensive,” and it was these words that helped to underpin Holmegaard’s vision. “Every Dane should have a Holmegaard glass.”
During his time at the glassworks, he designed several products that have now become collector’s items, including the Violet series and the Primrose series, which are designed with a beautiful optical pattern that creates a unique play in the glass.
Per Lütken – the undisputed master of Danish glass design
Per Lütken was the unrivalled master of Danish glass design and one of Holmegaard’s most important and innovative glass designers. He worked at Holmegaards Glasværk from 1942 until his death in 1998 and created more than 3,000 glass designs. Over time, many of these have become classics and synonymous with the quality Holmegaard is famous for.
Per Lütken was an inspiring character at Holmegaard, and he was known for his perfectionism and the high demands he placed on his glassblowers. He believed that glass should radiate craftsmanship, and his best-known designs include the Provence bowl (1955), Idéelle (1978) and Charlotte Amalie (1981).
Per Lütken was an inspiring character at Holmegaard, and he was known for his perfectionism and the high demands he placed on his glassblowers. He believed that glass should radiate craftsmanship, and his best-known designs include the Provence bowl (1955), Idéelle (1978) and Charlotte Amalie (1981).
Grethe Meyer & Ibi Trier Mørch – The design duo behind Meyer & Mørch
The design duo Meyer & Mørch, consisting of Grethe Meyer and Ibi Trier Mørch, have had a major impact on Danish design history with their aesthetically simple, timeless and functional designs The duo have always had an understanding of what is going on in design, a talent that has enabled them to create classics with a simple and tight design language – and to put the spirit of the time into the design formula.
The duo created the multi-functional Stub glass, which since its launch in 1958 has become a modern classic for the breakfast, dining, kitchen and bar table. Produced for more than three decades, the low-stemmed, cylindrical and stackable design became a symbol of urban living that is still unique – and has retained its design appeal to present day. The iconic glass has since been relaunched in a casual series of three designs, which, like the original glass, has been created for all generations and all purposes and can still be stacked without having to compromise on design.
The duo created the multi-functional Stub glass, which since its launch in 1958 has become a modern classic for the breakfast, dining, kitchen and bar table. Produced for more than three decades, the low-stemmed, cylindrical and stackable design became a symbol of urban living that is still unique – and has retained its design appeal to present day. The iconic glass has since been relaunched in a casual series of three designs, which, like the original glass, has been created for all generations and all purposes and can still be stacked without having to compromise on design.
Cecilie Manz – A great Danish design talent
The internationally renowned Cecilie Manz started her own design company in Copenhagen in 1998. She has won a number of prestigious Danish and international design awards, and her designs can be seen at MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art, in New York.
Her collaboration with Holmegaard has been ongoing since 2004. The Cecilie Manz Minima collection won the Danish Design Award 2008/2009 for combining Scandinavian modernity with functionality.
Her collaboration with Holmegaard has been ongoing since 2004. The Cecilie Manz Minima collection won the Danish Design Award 2008/2009 for combining Scandinavian modernity with functionality.
Maria Berntsen – Internationally renowned designer
Maria Berntsen is an industrial designer who has had her own business since 1992. She finds her design inspiration in architecture, nature, fashion and current trends. Maria Berntsen has a special love of glass as a material because it has a visual lightness and the ability to capture and reflect light.
Maria Berntsen is the woman behind Holmegaard’s One lamp and the successful Design with Light series, which includes a number of lanterns with distinctive leather handles. Maria Berntsen has also updated the classic chamber candlesticks with a Design with Light version for the modern home.
Maria Berntsen is the woman behind Holmegaard’s One lamp and the successful Design with Light series, which includes a number of lanterns with distinctive leather handles. Maria Berntsen has also updated the classic chamber candlesticks with a Design with Light version for the modern home.
Tom Nybroe – Graphic designer and wine enthusiast
Tom Nybroe is the perfectionist behind the award-winning Perfection series of wine glasses, which he created for Holmegaard in 2006. The Perfection series has been designed and developed with all the features necessary for a correct and optimal processing of the wine in the glass. The Perfection glass stands out for its distinctive pouring line and gives the series an elegant and streamlined look that will suit any table setting. Each glass is designed to ensure that the correct amount of wine is poured up to the distinctive line in the glass – which gives the optimal large surface area for the wine to breathe and develop. This special design also ensures a beautiful and perfect pour – while preventing you from pouring in too little or too much wine into the glass.
Laura Bilde & Linnea Blæhr – the design duo behind Seche Studio
The design duo Seche Studio, consisting of Laura Bilde and Linnea Blæhr, designed the Forma series for Holmegaard. In 2021, the series was nominated for the Design of the Year category for the Design Awards 2021. Forma is a series of striking, sculptural structures in solid glass with distinctive shapes, where the simple and stringent appearance draws references from the Bauhaus style, which was the functionalist rebellion against excessive decoration, where the “excessive” details gave way to cubes, cylinders and clean lines. This is the heritage that Forma continues to work with – but with its own personal touch.
Peter Svarrer – Master of light
Peter Svarrer is also known as the master of light because he creates glass designs that have a special ability to capture and reflect light – in the unique way only glass can. When Peter Svarrer and Holmegaard started working together in 1997, it marked the start of a fruitful and productive partnership that is still evolving today and from which new shapes and colours continue to emerge. Peter Svarrer has created the Cocoon, Future, Cabernet, The Northern Lights and Reflections series for Holmegaard, as well as lamps for the Iceland and Cocoon series.
Michael Bang (1942–2013) - Advanced glass art
Michael Bang was the son of Jacob E. Bang, Holmegaard’s first designer. In the 1960s and 1970s, Michael Bang was a designer at Odense Glasfabrik, but moved with his family to Holmegaard in the 1980s when he came to Holmegaard Glasfabrik. Here he was responsible for the design of the mouth-blown lamps in opal-white glass, which the glass factory specialised in.
Michael Bang designed the first Palet products for Kastrup-Holmegaard Glasværker in 1969, and they were launched that autumn. The palette series represents one of Holmegaard’s most popular and successful designs over the years and, with its strong colours, became the glass answer to the pop culture of the time. The series’ parts are made of mouth-blown glass in the original colours that were typical of the 1970s.
The Hans Fontaine wine glass series from 1987 with the bubble in the glass’ bowl is an example of some of Holmegaard’s most advanced craftsmanship and a current series of exclusive wine glasses.
Michael Bang designed the first Palet products for Kastrup-Holmegaard Glasværker in 1969, and they were launched that autumn. The palette series represents one of Holmegaard’s most popular and successful designs over the years and, with its strong colours, became the glass answer to the pop culture of the time. The series’ parts are made of mouth-blown glass in the original colours that were typical of the 1970s.
The Hans Fontaine wine glass series from 1987 with the bubble in the glass’ bowl is an example of some of Holmegaard’s most advanced craftsmanship and a current series of exclusive wine glasses.
Jette Frölich – Unique paper cuttings on glass
Jette Frölich is known for her beautiful Christmas designs, and she creates unique, elegant motifs in a Scandinavian style. Her classic Christmas series, Holmegaard Christmas, transforms the holiday season into paper cuttings placed on beautiful glassware with motifs taken from Nordic Christmas traditions. The motifs depicting Danish Christmas traditions are used to decorate jars for Christmas cookies, Christmas bottles, tumblers and other glasses and Christmas lanterns.
Ann-Sofi Romme – Christmas decorations
For many years, Ann-Sofi Romme has designed beautiful, classic Christmas decorations for Holmegaard. Throughout her career, she has worked with jewellery, glass and porcelain. Indoor Christmas cosiness and inspiration from the wintery landscape come together in Ann-Sofi Romme’s interpretation of Holmegaard’s Christmas. And every year she adds a new glass design to the Christmas collection. Ann-Sofi Romme’s Christmas designs are made of mouth-blown glass and they appeal to both minimalists and traditionalists with references to the natural symbolism of Christmas.
Kristine Meyer and Sabine Lavigne – Design duo Meyer-Lavigne
With the Souvenir series, the innovative design duo Meyer-Lavigne has taken Christmas’ classic red and green colours as its starting point, and then nuanced the look with an exclusive combination of gold, nude and a touch of cool lavender. Glass painting has become a forgotten craft over time, but Meyer-Lavigne has wanted to bring it back to life in a way that is relevant today. The best of Souvenir’s high quality and excellent craftsmanship is also evident.
Anja Kjær – Unique glass designs for 25 years
Anja Kjær has been creating unique glass designs as an independent artist for 25 years. A confident sense of strong, cheerful colours and classic lines add the special Anja Kjær touch, which means that her designs are known and loved far beyond Denmark’s borders.
For Holmegaard, Anja Kjær created the unique glass series Regina. The series was made for the Danish royal couple’s silver wedding in 1992, and the glasses were produced by Holmegaard as a gift from the Copenhagen City Council. Anja Kjær found inspiration for the series in old Venetian glassware and production methods. It takes great technical skill to blow out the magnificent and exclusive glass, which has now been launched by Holmegaard under the name Regina.
For Holmegaard, Anja Kjær created the unique glass series Regina. The series was made for the Danish royal couple’s silver wedding in 1992, and the glasses were produced by Holmegaard as a gift from the Copenhagen City Council. Anja Kjær found inspiration for the series in old Venetian glassware and production methods. It takes great technical skill to blow out the magnificent and exclusive glass, which has now been launched by Holmegaard under the name Regina.
Claus Dalby – The floral artist
Claus Dalby started working with Holmegaard in 2014 when he developed the classic hand-blown vase series Old English. The aim was to create vases and flower bowls based on the characteristic Holmegaard glass design, which is easy to decorate and beautifully accentuates the flowers.
Old English is inspired by the English tradition of gardening, highlighted by beautiful bouquets and petals floating in the water. The basic design behind the series is a classic, cup-shaped vase inspired by Claus Dalby’s own floral designs. The soft lines and curves of the vase are also recognisable in the Old English series' flower bowls, which are perfect for floating petals, growing onions and floral blends in.
Old English is inspired by the English tradition of gardening, highlighted by beautiful bouquets and petals floating in the water. The basic design behind the series is a classic, cup-shaped vase inspired by Claus Dalby’s own floral designs. The soft lines and curves of the vase are also recognisable in the Old English series' flower bowls, which are perfect for floating petals, growing onions and floral blends in.
Arne Jacobsen (1902–1971) - Functional design
Arne Jacobsen was one of the 20th century’s most influential Danish architects and designers. Arne Jacobsen has been leaving his modernist mark on architecture and design for more than 50 years – not only in Denmark, but also internationally. His production was enormous and based on a philosophy of creating total concepts where everything was well designed.
The Royal series consists of glasses for serving red wine, white wine, dessert wine, champagne, cocktails, beer, shots and water, making it the perfect design statement for spring lunch tables and cocktail hour in a Mad Men style all year round.
The Royal series consists of glasses for serving red wine, white wine, dessert wine, champagne, cocktails, beer, shots and water, making it the perfect design statement for spring lunch tables and cocktail hour in a Mad Men style all year round.
Maria Kariis – Inspired by the luxurious shape of tulips
Maria Kariis started working with Holmegaard in 2006. Here she threw herself into her work with glass as a design material, and as a designer she is responsible for the mouth-blown 2Lips vase series, which was inspired by the lush form of the tulip. The range is an excellent example of sculptural and decorative glass art.
Torben Jørgensen – Glass Artist
Glass artist Torben Jørgensen has been associated with Holmegaard Glasfabrik since 1997. Torben has great respect for glass as a material, and his work always focuses on the will of the glass. He has been working with Holmegaard for more than 25 years. He has produced some the most popular Holmegaard tealight holders, namely the sturdy Lotus candlesticks, which come in three sizes. His designs also include Humle and Det Danske Glas.
Our special characteristics
Holmegaard is built around various values and characteristics. Together they form the foundations of our brand, design and product development. We are constantly developing, but for the almost 200 years that we have been in existence, we have remained faithful to the core of what Holmegaard stands for. As such, we have been able to create designs that, day after day, find a place in Danish homes.
Original
Holmegaard has been working with glass since its foundation. Our products are original designs that exude quality and style for everyday use, festive and special occasions. Each piece of mouth-blown glass is unique and handmade by the glassblower, who carefully blows the right amount of air through the narrow pipe. Air bubbles in the glass are therefore inevitable and are part of the charm of mouth-blown glass. Many of Holmegaard’s glasses have gained a very special iconic status in Denmark. Many people will recognise the Provence bowl or the famous Skibsglass glass series – and to this day we still produce both of these.
Craft traditions
Holmegaard builds its creations on a deep passion for glass craftsmanship. It is what drives us in our daily work, where we challenge both methods and designs – and we never compromise. Holmegaard produces both mouth-blown and machine-blown glass using the latest and most advanced production methods. Today, we still find inspiration for new glasses by looking back at our rich glass history. In doing this, we manage to retain a consistent look and theme in all the designs we produce. Excellent craftsmanship and quality have been a priority from the very beginning. And it is also this elegant, Danish glass craftsmanship and the hand-blown craftsmanship traditions that have made it possible for us to export glass to many countries around the world.
A world of glass
Holmegaard creates a world of glass. A world where original designs and excellent craftsmanship are the foundation of all the classics we know and admire. With our passion for glass and the many possibilities it offers, we create beautiful, elegant and unique glass designs for both flowers and the table. Designs that exude both quality and style – such as the classic mouth-blown glass from Holmegaard, which bears the Nordic Ecolabel. No matter how they are produced, our designs always encourage reflection. It’s the different worlds of glass that we strive for every day.
Danish design
Based on Holmegaard’s experience, we have built a proud tradition of excellent craftsmanship and stylish Danish design. The tradition-rich history is our foundation, and we continue to build on it today by creating Danish design classics that combine Scandinavian modernism with functionality. It is not without reason that we have been a Purveyor to the Royal Danish Court since 1825. Because it's in the meeting between modern and functional Nordic design and proud Danish design traditions that you'll find what makes Holmegaard unique.
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We preserve and develop Danish design icons so that both present and future products can be part of the brands that have helped create our Danish design culture.
We preserve and develop Danish design icons so that both present and future products can be part of the brands that have helped create our Danish design culture.
