With Sweden’s most renowned glass works Orrefors*, a unique vase, named Black Hole Osaka, was developed for the Osaka Expo 2025. Together we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible to craft.

Geometrical, pure and solid, it challenges the notion of what a vase should be. Large (60cm diameter) and heavy – it rests firmly, yet appears floating. Dark, black, but still with some transparency to make its inner reservoir visible. The flowers are not only kept watered and held up, but are also enhanced by their reflection in the flat surround.

The process is coloured, sand-cast, ground and polished glass. The challenge being the volume and tapered solidity, making time critical: Both the limited time-span allowed for pouring the cast, and the very long and slow time-span needed for cooling.

Inspired by the latest scientific discoveries from the edge of the universe that we now can see – where the illusive black holes have just recently been able to visualise ­– and rooted in long traditions of handmade glass manufacturing, the Black Hole Osaka vase ties the history of human cultural development with future endeavors.

* Orrefors was founded in 1898. Their glass has been exhibited in countless international contexts throughout the years, including a celebrated appearance at the Paris Expo in 1925, making the Osaka Expo a centennial jubilee.

Orrefors glass constitutes sustainable design that creates a more beautiful world, making objects that last from one generation to the next. Orrefors only works with lead-free glass and is an environmentally certified company.