Iittala - Alvar Aalto vase 220mm dark grey

Inspired by Finland's many lakes, Aalto vases have been a design icon. In 1936, Alvar Aalto's glass vase series won first prize in the 1936 Karhula-Iittala Glass Design Competition. Compared to the decorative objects of the time, the simple yet organic form of this vase was a revolutionary statement. Inspired by waves ('aalto' in Finnish) in the water, the vase is a symbol of Finnish design and one of the most famous glass objects in the world. Each vase in the Alvar Aalto Collection continues to be mouth-blown in the Iittala factory and is available in a wide range of colours and sizes. The Collection is a staple of modern Scandinavian design and Iittala's most iconic series. Other objects inspired by Aalto and created by Pentagon Design such as steel bowls, wooden plates and votives can also be found in the Alvar Aalto Collection.

Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto, finnish architect, designer and academic, known as one of the most important figures in 20th century architecture. Also remembered, together with architects such as Mies van der Rohe, Gropius, Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier, as one of the greatest masters of the Modern Movement. In 1931 he moved to Helsinki and in 1933 he participated in the fourth CIAM and in the elaboration of the Charter of Athens. In 1932 he created a series of glasses with overlapping circular bands, designing a decorative chiaroscuro that helps in the grip. His furniture was exhibited in Zurich and London in 1933 and the following year he created the "Artek" company for the mass production of his furniture. From that moment begins to exhibit his most prestigious works in several countries: Italy, Switzerland, Denmark and the United States. In 1940 he invented the famous "Y" leg which was then redesigned fourteen years later as a fan leg, made up of sheets of plywood. In fact, his 1931 Paimio armchair, with curved wooden elements, and his 1936 curvilinear vase Savoy  have become major design icons that have laid the cornerstone for so-called “organic design”. More generally, he was a comprehensive designer, with a humanistic attention to man and his total environment.

Iittala

Iittala is a Finnish company that is an icon of Scandinavian design, founded in the Finnish village of the same name in 1881. Iittala represents the best Scandinavian craftsmanship tradition of glassmaking, and its products are timeless design icons: globally appreciated objects of original and unique style that are distinguished by high quality materials, sophisticated design and extreme functionality. Collaboration with the greatest designers in history has led to the creation of objects of absolute value such as the Alvar Aalto vases, designed in 1936, which represent a historical icon of modern design. Iittala represents the history of modern design and offers original, functional, high-quality objects with designs that never go out of fashion; accessories for everyday use.