Aalto Vase

Alvar Aalto, Iittala

Alvar Aalto designed the vase for the Karhula-Iittala glass competition in 1936; shown at the Paris World Fair in 1937, its fluid, irregular form challenged everything European glass design then stood for. Each piece is still mouth-blown in Finland. The name 'Savoy' came later, from the Helsinki restaurant Aalto and his wife Aino designed in 1937.

DesignerAlvar Aalto (1936)
MakerIittala, Finland
MaterialsMouth-blown glass; handcrafted in Finland
Sizes95, 120, 140, 160 mm and larger
ProductionEach vase passes through the hands of a team of skilled glassblowers
PriceUSD 285 (160 mm, clear) at Hive Modern, an authorized Iittala dealer
AvailabilityIn production; available through Iittala and authorized dealers

Editorial link to the maker's official site, opening in a new tab. Not a paid placement.

Why Estate & Design selected it

The Aalto vase is the object that finishes a room. On a console, a mantel or a dining table it brings the organic line of the Finnish landscape indoors, and because every piece is mouth-blown, no two are exactly alike. It is the most given, and most kept, vase in design history.

Estate & Design is not a retailer. Details were verified against the maker or publisher at the time of publication; availability and pricing may change.