Høvik Glassworks

From glasshouse to several activities

Høvik Glassworks, at Høvikstranda in Bærum, originated in a glasshouse established in 1855, initially for bottles. Following interruptions, a new production phase began in 1871. Using the founding year as though the enterprise and every product remained unchanged throughout its history is therefore misleading.

Pressed glass and lamp glass

Høvik made glass for lighting and pressed household wares. A lamp and metal workshop was established in 1876. The glassworks, lamp factory and later Høvik Lys are related names, but do not describe one unchanging production activity.

Sverre Pettersen designed the Nordlys pressed-glass range around 1930; it continued at Hadeland Glassworks in 1933. This is a specific example of a model continuing at another works. A model name alone therefore does not establish where an individual example was made.

Identifying an object

Record the complete form, base, dimensions, colour, marks and wear. For a lamp, document metalwork, glass components, model information and later replacements separately. Do not transfer an attribution from a lamp's metal base to a detached shade without further evidence.

Compare dated catalogues and professionally documented examples. Disclose uncertainty when pattern resemblance alone links an object to Høvik. Browse our glass and crystal objects.

Sources

Bærum Library's works history, Arkivmagasinet 1/2013 on Høvik and Store norske leksikon on glass and lighting.