Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Painter1959 on August 16, 2006, 07:39:30 PM
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I recently purchased some Finnish Glass from a local Family whose parents immigrated from Finland. They traveled back and forth throughout the 1950's and 1960's. They had excellent taste and upon those artists whose pieces I purchased are two 1954 signed pieces from Tapio Wirkalla and a beauty by Pertti Santalahati. This cream and sugar on stemware is unusually fine work. They was supposedly purchased at a glass exhibition in Humpilla in the mid 1950's. I would appreciate any information that anyone can share.
http://home.earthlink.net/~painter1959/finland.JPG
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Riihimaen Lasi Oy designed by Nanny Still, called Harlekiini. :lol:
(and yes, they did have good taste. Gorgeous :mrgreen: )
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just to confirm what Della's already told you, they're from Nanny Still's Harlekiini range - very collectable and commanding high prices. I adore anything from this range - absolutely gorgeous IMO. Any chance you could post a picture of your Pertti Santalahti piece? I have a large plate by PS for Humppila - I'd be really interested to see your piece if at all possible.
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They're lovely. We'd like to see the Tapio Wirkalla pieces as well, please :D
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I can't thank you enough for your FAST ID for your my recent Finnish pieces. I knew they were tremendously made and I am delighted to know they are Nanny's work. Whoo Hoo! Here are pics of the other three pieces I bought at the same yard sale. I did not know that all 3 pieces were signed and dated until I got home and started cleaning them up. I felt like I'd won a lottery. I have no idea of value on these pieces- would anyone be able to give me ballpark idea?
http://home.earthlink.net/~painter1959/tapioset.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~painter1959/tapio1.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~painter1959/tapio2.JPG
<p>
http://home.earthlink.net/~painter1959/ice.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~painter1959/ice1.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~painter1959/ice2.JPG
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Thanks for the pix. It's aways good to see examples of the stuff you may only have read about. No idea on value but they are lovely :mrgreen:
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I also have no idea of value, but they are well sought after items.
The nearest that I can find for comparison is here (http://cgi.ebay.nl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7397670315&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT)
I do have values that are quoted in Designlasin hinkatirja, but these are also not reliable in today's market.
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I'd kill for that Harlekini.
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:shock:
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The Harlekiini range is indeed very attractive and elegant, but I've never really understood why it commands such astronomical prices compared to other Riihimaen tableware sets of the same period. :?
Not that I'm complaining, as I've benefitted from the inflated prices when selling in the past.
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Greetings from Finland! Nanny Still's Harlekiini (Harlequin) pieces are splendid. There is a story that Madame Still was walking on seashore somewhere (Italy? Spain?) and found a piece of blue glass. She took it with her to Riihimäki Finland and wanted just the same turquoise/blue colour for this set.
Here a few more photos, which might explain, why Harlekiini is being adored all over the world. My opinion is that the lo-res pic is closer to the real color. The upper pic is a bit too blue.
http://design.museum.gent.be/fotos/archief/nieuw/still-2.jpg
http://www.publiscan.fi/jpeg/harlek.jpg
Edit: Painter1959, my envious congratulations fot the Wirkkala find! Your pieces are very, very valuable. Sigh.
Edit2: Humppila pieces are not ranked very high, at least here in Finland.
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The story I heard was that it was on the isle of Capri in Italy that the blue glass was washed ashore and found.
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Graphite! Welcome to this board, there are quite a number of collectors of Finnish glass here and we always enjoy input "from the source". I hope you'll enjoy yourself.
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Thank you Ivo, it seems that there are numerous experts in here! I'm afraid I am just reminiscing my childhood desing, and do not possess any rarities, but happy to help anywhere I can. At least in translation & spelling... :D in Finnish I mean.
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.... I am just reminiscing my childhood desing, and do not possess any rarities, but happy to help anywhere I can. At least in translation & spelling... :D in Finnish I mean.
Hello Graphite - lovely to have you here - we really need a regular Finnish contributor on this board (you may just live to regret offering help in translation and spelling) :D
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Thanks Pip - found this forum when trying to solve the mystery of my one and only Murano plate, so it feels correct to offer help in return. (Btw, you seem to handle Finnish quite well!)
I am interested in the post-war Finnish design, as you all might know, Finland was in several wars and had to pay war indemnities to Russia. Compared to the lands of plenty (like Sweden and Denmark) Finland was very poor, but the people were innovative and creative. Shipping and paper industries were developed as well as beautiful design.
It is a shame most of it ended in the oil crisis. Nowadays traditional Finnish businesses are sold abroad and I am afraid we can kiss goodbye everything own and original.
So, if I can help 'saving the memory' of the great Finnish designers, I'm happy to help. One of the greatest, Timo Sarpaneva, passed away a month ago.
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I am interested in the post-war Finnish design, as you all might know, Finland was in several wars and had to pay war indemnities to Russia. Compared to the lands of plenty (like Sweden and Denmark) Finland was very poor, but the people were innovative and creative. Shipping and paper industries were developed as well as beautiful design.
It is a shame most of it ended in the oil crisis. Nowadays traditional Finnish businesses are sold abroad and I am afraid we can kiss goodbye everything own and original.
So, if I can help 'saving the memory' of the great Finnish designers, I'm happy to help. One of the greatest, Timo Sarpaneva, passed away a month ago.
The memory of great Finnish design is alive and well here Graphite - as you know I'm also a big fan (as are many others on here) and you'll also be pleased to hear that Timo Sarpaneva's recent passing didn't go without mention on this board.
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Timo Sarpaneva's recent passing didn't go without mention on this board.
See: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,7649.0.html
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It is a shame most of it ended in the oil crisis. Nowadays traditional Finnish businesses are sold abroad and I am afraid we can kiss goodbye everything own and original.
I can not share your pessimism. Contemporary Finnish design of glass and other tableware is strong and original and few countries can match the steady innovative output, stylistic consistency and professional distribution in this sector. As for the sale of traditional businesses, remember that the Finnish paper industry bought up all paper mills in the rest of Europe. It's the way of the world... And I haven't even mentioned Saab or Nokia. :wink: :wink: :wink:
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Ah! You are right Ivo. Thanks for reminding me, but still... for me, the design today is not as courageous, wild and original as it was in the golden ages. But I will get used to it... not. Considering paper mills I wanted to pinpoint the fact that the knowledge and innovation was Finnish... believe me it is frustrating to write in English!
Thank you for the Sarpaneva memorial link! I am touched. :)
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Again my thans to all who have helped me with improving both my knowledge and appreciation of Finnish design. I have now added Finland to the top of places I must visit. I suppose life is a bit like treasure hunting, you never know what you will find. In my case, my health has deteriorated over the past several months and I am now unable to work. Quite a change for someone who has held the same job for over 30 years. If I were to to sell off my Harlekiini sugar bowl and creamer and Tapio Wirkkala pieces, would I be best served be using an auction house? I've already had an estimation on them by Bergmans of Heilsinki and they at one time they did express an interest. I do sell on e-bay, but for the last year, e-bay has been more of a dissappointment. For the Nanny Still collectors, I notice that my creamer has an air bubble in the glass...how does this affect the purity/value of the piece? I appreciate any thought you may have. I have never consigned anything to auction so this would all be new to me.
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Hi, I saw a Tapio bowl like yours go for about £300 (more or less, can't
remember exact price) at a scandinavian auction site (www.lauritz.com)
This site sometimes has real bargains, today an inciso vase signed by
Alfredo Barbini went for about £90.
Barbini (http://www.lauritz.com/Item/Item.aspx?LanguageId=5&ItemId=864484&nBids=5&ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.lauritz.com%2fItemList%2fItemList.aspx%3fLanguageId%3d5%26DC%3d1%26CPIn%3d0%26ISz%3d0%26PSz%3d30%26PSzG%3d6%26SO%3d3%26ST%3d0%26IgId%3d36%26TTyp%3d3%26TVal%3d86400%26FLId%3d5%26FCId%3d6%26FText%3d%26LLan%3dFalse%23864484)
I dunno how much these go for on ebay but probably less?