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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Scandinavian Glass => Topic started by: chopin-liszt on July 04, 2005, 09:01:09 PM

Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 04, 2005, 09:01:09 PM
While I'm reminded, by Barbara's post, about IIttala and markings, I found this TW marked decanter and shot glasses years ago in a charity shop. I haven't been able to identify the name of this style from any of the sites put up, does anybody here know?

http://tinypic.com/6qbsia.jpg      Iittala decanter base, with TW mark
http://tinypic.com/6qbsli.jpg       Ditto, with shot glasses

I also have this little square vase/pot which my mother gave me at christmas sometime back in the '70's, should I really be using it as my garlic container in the kitchen? It looks a bit like the decanter and shot glasses texture.

http://tinypic.com/6qbsrn.jpg      garlic container
http://tinypic.com/6qcdg7.jpg     Ditto   base

Last but not least, am I correct in thinking that this one is called Aslak? Should I let Michael drink his beer out of it?

http://tinypic.com/6qcdjo.jpg      Aslak ? tumbler/vase
Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: Sklounion on July 04, 2005, 09:36:32 PM
Re: Aslak and Michael using it.

If you are creating a museum/mausoleum, Michael, put it down very, very carefully!!!!

Michael, if you enjoy drinking beer from it, pick it up, and do some strenuous aerobic alcohol-lifting exercise.

Sue, you have high-lighted one of the dichotomies of modern life.

If it has value should we use it/ if it has value should we enjoy it?

We have many things that a collector would admire, but we use our Harrachov Metelak glasses, Bengt Severin Holmegaard Princess glass, Gerald Benney, 1st production run "Studio" cutlery, an amazingly modernist Wedgwood earthen-ware dinner service from the 30's.

What is the point of cluttering our lives with dead, sterile pieces, that are only valued for some, often nebulous, and unrealisable market value?

All we have, we only hold temporarily, we cannot take it with us. Our kids often hate it, and would sell it, but for the fact it reminds them of someone.

When you are gone, they will sell it anyway, to buy things more to their taste.

None of us can expect anything else, for to be otherwise, is to think we can impose the tyranny of what we hold dear on our off-spring.

Use it, enjoy it, an accidental breakage is just that, remember you bought it, on holiday, from a charity shop, the dealer did not realise what he had.

Regards,

"Madamoiselle Haversham",
(place burning down round my ears, while the wedding cake is consumed by mice from the inside)

Marcus
Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 04, 2005, 09:52:36 PM
:D  8) Thanks for your reassurance, Marcus! I do tend to use things, if they are useful, and while the little square pot is lovely, it also lets the air circulate nicely about the garlic, and I think I get more pleasure from using it than just looking at it. I take it I should not put the Aslak in the dishwasher, though!!! (a big consideration, as I dislike the drying end of the washing-up process, and the dishwasher does that for me if I open it up when the stuff is still hot!)
Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: Sklounion on July 04, 2005, 09:56:49 PM
Hi Sue,
"as I dislike the drying end of the washing-up process"
If Michael enjoys drinking from it, it's hardly a burden for him to dry his glass????
Marcus
Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: tmaritta on July 04, 2005, 10:08:33 PM
Sue,  

No harm of putting your Aslak glasses into the dishwasher.  I wash all my Iittala glasses, e.g. Aslak and Ultima Thule in the dishwasher.  If they do get cloudy (which they sometimes do at least here in Canaries - can't really remember if it happened in England though), I just use those tablets for cleaning dentures and they get sparkling clean again.

I agree that nice glasses and porcelain should be used and not just admired in the vitrine!

TMaritta
Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: Sklounion on July 04, 2005, 10:19:44 PM
TMaritta wrote:
Quote
I agree that nice glasses and porcelain should be used and not just admired in the vitrine!

Sarpaneva thought that textured glasses would make drinking a multi-sensation experience and that tactile surfaces would increase the pleasure. If he had felt the pleasure would have been optimised by smooth, dust shedding surfaces to his glass, he'd have found a different audience, F1 auto-sport???? :lol:
Marcus
Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 04, 2005, 10:35:58 PM
:D It's not just the drying-up bit, it's the whole business of nasty, damp, germ-breeding tea towels :twisted: and of having to wash them too :( . Stuff straight out of the dishwasher is basically sterilised. :D  :D  :D
I might just risk it, Tmaritta! By the way, it's nice to have you back  :D  :D  :D -you've been gone a while!
Title: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: Glen on July 05, 2005, 09:48:50 AM
Drain and air dry the glasses Sue. I also have a bit of a "thing" about tea towels harbouring scary germs (did anyone see the Sky TV series "So You Think You're Safe?") When I need to dry stuff I go through several clean, fresh tea towels.  :shock:

On the question of using precious glass - well, yes, there are many pieces I use. Mostly vases. My favorites are the Brockwitz amber bird handled vase (it has several shades of cream to rust roses in it right now) and a magnificent Fenton Favrene vase.

When my children were much younger we visited the home of (well known) long-time Carnival collectors. They offered my son a drink of fruit juice in a Northwood Raspberry tumbler. He (and I) will never forget it.  :lol:

Glen
Title: Re: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: bartedu78 on December 10, 2016, 05:27:37 PM
Good Evening Everybody
I am almost sure that your decanter marked TW is Iittala designed by  designer Tapio Wirkkala. Some of them could be really expensive/:) send me pls a phot than I might be able to tell you something more.
Regards Bart
Title: Re: TW marked IIttala decanter + unidentifed bits
Post by: chopin-liszt on December 10, 2016, 05:51:25 PM
I have managed to find out what it is, it's the small square-shaped melting ice textured decanter with the clear, round "porthole" in the middle. It think it dates to ~ '64.
The shot glasses are the right ones to match it. I had 10, I got them out when I had visitors and now I seem to only have 7. There are three, hiding somewhere. ::)

My "garlic container" vase is Dartington, Frank Thrower; (early '70s, when I was given it)

and Michael doesn't use the Aslak, he prefers a Wedgwood blown smoky glass pint pot I found for him. It's got a feel and balance he likes much better than the Aslak tumbler, so that just sits on my kitchen shelves, looking good. :)

Thank-you!