Orrefors is the Swedish glasshouse that more or less taught the world what modern crystal could be, and this decanter is a quiet piece of that thinking. A single drawn teardrop of clear crystal, heavier at the base and tapering up through a slim neck to a long faceted spear stopper, the whole thing balanced on its own line. No colour, no cutting, no decoration. It does not need any.

It carries the engraved Orrefors Sweden signature and the factory code, the U in that code marking it as uncut, smooth crystal, which is exactly what the eye already tells you. The teardrop form is one Orrefors is known for, attributed to Vicke Lindstrand, and it was made in two sizes; at 35 cm this is the larger. Clear glass hides nothing, and this one has kept both its clarity and its original stopper, with only the light surface wear you would expect of something made to be used and kept.

35 cm tall, signed, stopper original and matched.

Like all lead crystal of its time, it is best kept for display and occasional serving rather than the long-term storage of drink.