Dear Cathy, Thank-you for taking the reins on this subject, I had, had enough controversy to last a lifetime so took a break from it, and was considering to let the subject die. when I e-mailed you the Replies from Orrefors, and asked you not to publish them that was for my own edification. I didn't feel I needed to prove anything to anyone anymore based on the responses I have received so far, which have been somewhat negative in nature (but I understand the cynicism). You suggested that I post them here to verify and give some weight to my argument. But..... I don't want to argue. I agree that this was not produced by Orrefors the company. all my posts up till now with respect to the signature itself are efforts of mine to bring to light that there can be exceptions and exceptions do occur. Even a novice collector can find truth. Fact is, I was told the block style script was not Orrefors script and did find some samples, Fact is, I was told Orrefors signatures were employed by the use of a diamond tip engraver. I found other examples that weren't. So I am a common sense guy, and I ask myself, why is there inconsistencies in what I am being told. I question like you and everyone else here we are trying to find answers to what we don't know. In summary, We know that the item was now made at the Orrefors Factory in the hot shop. We know that if this is true, it would have meant that the infrastructure of the factory was used, at least that is what my common sense side of me is telling me. If this is the case, Was the actual glass (raw product, before smelting) brought in, was talent from Orrefors used to complete this item in any manner or form (Ie Anders Carlsson's Talent for making molds?) Did the female designer carve her own mold and bring it in to use? How would Anders Carlson have first hand knowledge of this item? Did the designer bring it in for show and tell? Who was the gather?, who was the Finisher? all great questions. As for the signature, In retrospect, I believe, it may have been added by the designer herself but I have no definitive proof she did or someone from Orrefors or anyone for that matter. Common sense tells me that whomever put the signature there, had to have known that it was created there, whether it was applied using proper procedure or not. The Issue in my mind is not the signature Micky Mouse could have put it there. The question you have to ask, Is... Was this made there? and it apparently was. Is this an Orrefors Product, No We have already determined that. Is it a fantastic modern Rendering....I sure think so, no matter who made it. Michael Branch.
On an added note, I did endeavor to research the hospital itself. I went to the web site and looked under public relations/ awards/contributions ect... any link I could think of. I was limited because of the language barrier as all information I could not get in English. I did not attempt to E-Mail the hospital because, I did not think I would be considered any kind of priority and because of the language barrier. There have been contributions by the Orrefors Co. from what limited information that I could see. It seemed to me, (and I could be wrong) that They do apparently have a gift shop which does sell Orrefors glass.