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Orrefors, the Swedish glassmaker, is a nominee for a Luxist Award for best glassware.

Its beginnings date back to 1726, when Lars Johan Silversparre received permission to build a furnace and a smithy at "the beautiful river that flows into Lake Orrenas". The iron works was given the name Orrefors, which means "the Orre waterfall".

The company's international breakthrough came at the Paris Exhibition of 1925. From the Hotel de Ville, the Town Hall of Paris, the Swedish pavilion borrowed a magnificent glass goblet designed by Simon Gate that had been presented as a gift to the City of Paris from the City of Stockholm in 1922. The goblet became a sensation, and the prestigious Grand Prix award was given to Orrefors and its designers. The glassblowers and engravers received gold medals

Since then, Orrefors has won thousands of design and glassmaking awards. Its pieces have been collected by individuals and museums and showcased in exhibits and public installations the world over, from the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

The American International Fine Art Fair in Palm Beach, Fl. is a Luxist Awards' nominee for Best Antiques Resource.

Celebrating its 14th year, the AIFAF features international dealers representing disciplines of fine art from classical antiquity to contemporary, in addition to some of the finest haute and period jewelry in the world. Considered to be the premier art, antique and jewelry fair in the United States, the fair is fully vetted by leading museum curators and experts.

Prestigious exhibitors from more than ten countries offer an extraordinary array of exceptional works of art, antiques and jewelry in America's most glamorous winter destination. This fair has become an annual destination for serious connoisseurs, collectors, and museum curators. It is an event of exceptional quality.

The fair has strict guidelines as to what it will allow to be exhibited. For European ceramics, glass and crystal, for example, the dateline for factory produced items is the 1950s. Objects that are decorated or painted in a later period are not acceptable. Objects, which have been so heavily restored and/or damaged as to change their original nature, function, or the artisan's intention are not acceptable. All restorations or repairs should be mentioned on labels. Pieces with later mounts are not acceptable. The deadline for studio works is also the 1950s.

In 2010, the AIFAF will be held from February 3 to February 8 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Wedgwood is a nominee for a Luxist Award for best dishware.

Quintessentially English, Wedgwood has a long tradition of innovation, quality and craftsmanship and its designs are widely acknowledged as timeless, elegant, classic and understated.

The Wedgwood Company was founded in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood, who is considered to be the "Father of English Potters". In 1765, Wedgwood developed a unique cream-colored earthenware that so pleased England's Queen Charlotte that she gave her permission for his gracious innovation to be dubbed "Queen's Ware". He put fine earthenware within the reach of all and his success was immediate worldwide.

The most famous of all Josiah Wedgwood's innovations, however, was Jasperware, which was unglazed vitreous fine stoneware, that could be stained blue, green, lilac, yellow or black to provide a suitable background for white classic-inspired reliefs or portraits. To this day, Jasperware is still recognized around the world as the Wedgwood signature collection.

In recent years, the company has established exciting design partnerships with fashion designers, Jasper Conran, Vera Wang and artist Robert Dawson to develop contemporary and stylish ranges that appeal to the younger consumer.

In 1986, the Wedgwood group became and division of WWRD Holding Limited, which also owns such world class brands as Waterford Crystal, Royal Doulton and Royal Albert.

Tiffany & Co. is a nominee for a Luxist Award in both the dishware and glassware categories.

Over the past two centuries, Tiffany & Co. has built an international reputation as a premier jeweler and is renowned for its fine china and crystal. Today, its signature blue gift box topped by the white silky bow is an icon for luxury.

Tiffany & Co. was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in the late 1830's. Starting out as a stationary and fancy goods store, the partners soon expanded to include silver hollowware and flatware, and later jewelry, luxury table, personal and household accessories. Tiffany first achieved international recognition at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1867. The company was then awarded the grand prize for silver craftsmanship---the first time an American design house had been so honored by a foreign jury. By 1870, Tiffany & Co. was America's premier purveyor of jewels and timepieces, as well as luxury table, personal, and household accessories.

Throughout the jeweler's history, the most prominent members of American society were devoted Tiffany customers from Vanderbilts, Astors and Whitneys to J.P. Morgan, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Paul Mellon, all of whom commissioned Tiffany to produce their gold and silver services. Tiffany china has also set the stage for countless White House dinners.

The tradition continues into the 21st century. Today, Tiffany & Co. is one of America's best known institutions.

Gallery: More from Tiffany & Co.

Nominated for a Luxist Award in the glassware and lighting categories is Baccarat, which has sold its creations to the royal families of France, Japan, Russia, Arabia, Morocco and even the White House, since it was established in France in 1764.

Since its founding, Baccarat has continued expanding its influence, inspired in roots stemming from an ingenious handcrafted work of the highest quality, throughout the world.

To this day, Baccarat crystal is still handcrafted in the village of Baccarat located in Lorraine in eastern France. The crystal pieces it creates are described as both divine and exhilarating. Yes, they are extravagant but always elegant.

Since 1824, Baccarat has been presenting magnificent crystal chandeliers. The Maharajah of Gwalior ordered a large chandelier, weighing about a ton to decorate his new Palace. A series of candelabras were created for the Czar Nicolas II's St. Petersburg Winter Palace. Baccarat's magnificent lighting includes crystal chandeliers, sconces, lamps, floor lamps, candleholders and candelabras. Each piece has ethereal qualities as it glistens with the incomparable luster of crystal.

There's nothing like the light that emits from Baccarat crystal, and perhaps nothing tastes better than when drunk from a Baccarat crystal glass.

Gallery: Baccarat Crystal