Orrefors was founded in Sweden in 1898 by Johnan August Samuelson. In 1913 it was bought by Johan Eckman, and ran by Albert Ahlin. Orrefors was bought by Henning Beyer in 1946, and was run by his family until 1971. Orrefors bought out many of its rival glass companies, including Alsterfors, Flygsfors, Strombergshyttan, Gullaskruf, and Kosta Boda. Glass designers who have worked at Orrefors over the years include Sven Palmqvist, Nils Landberg, Vicke Lindstrand, Ingeborg Lundin, and Gunnar Cyren. Orrefors became Orrefors Kosta Boda in 1990, and joined The Royal Scandinavia Group in 1997.
Sources: 20th Century Factory Glass by Lesley Jackson.