Collection: Iittala (Finland)

Iittala began in 1881 as a glass factory in the Finnish village of the same name. Its history is rooted in glassmaking, rather than simply a move from ornate ceramic dinner sets to modern tableware. Over time, practical household glass and experimental decorative objects helped shape the design identity associated with the name today.

That modern design heritage took shape before the post-war mid-century period. Aino Aalto’s functional pressed-glass series was first presented at a Karhula Glass Factory competition in 1932 and entered production that year. Its ringed surface and stackable form brought usefulness and accessible production together. Alvar Aalto’s organic glass designs followed in the 1936 Karhula-Iittala competition, where his vase series won first prize. These Karhula connections are an important part of the wider design history now represented by the Iittala brand.

The post-war decades brought further exploration by designers including Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva. Wirkkala’s Ultima Thule glassware evokes the texture of melting ice, while Sarpaneva’s Festivo candleholders combine a textured surface with a sculptural, segmented form. Iittala dates Festivo’s design and continuing production to 1967.

Today, Iittala is a broader design brand with collections extending beyond glass. Its vintage glass remains an expression of the relationship between useful form, material experimentation and individual designers, rather than a single style or production period.

Read more about Iittala’s history here.

Read more about Aino Aalto’s 1932 pressed-glass design here.

Read more about Alvar Aalto’s 1936 glass designs here.

Read more about Festivo’s design and production history here.