Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Scandinavian Glass => Topic started by: uphoosier on April 09, 2012, 05:11:10 PM
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I just picked up my first Iittalia Bird vase in green, and now have an overwhelming desire to get more. What colors was this vase made in, and what is the relative rarity of each color? Thanks for any info provided.
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From "Iittala: 125 years of Finnish Glass, Complete History with all Designers"
From the Sarpaneva catalog (From the i-glass series):
Bird Bottle (straight) i-400
=2500
1956
i-colors
mould blown, flared
75cl
1957-1966
Bird Bottle (round) i-40
0=2501
1956
i-colors
mould blown, flared
50cl
1957-1966
From the text:
"A new concept for Iittala's household glass production came from the i-glass designed by Timo Sarpaneva, which reached the market in 1956. It created around it an atmosphere of discreetly aesthetic pleasure. The series was described as a combination of art glass and household glass. Sarpaneva and engineer Keijo Laitinen had developed new colors for i-glass—grey and a grey tinted blue, green and violet.. These became Iittala's stand colors for years to come."
I have one of each, one in green one in blue. Which is rarer, I can't say. The violet is particularly nice, I think.
Congratulations on your find.
Rob
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Well, only 4 more to go. Should be managable. I do find the claim that the line was a melding of art glass and household glass a bit amusing. I can't imagine a practical use for a bottle with such a narrow neck.
Thank you very much for the information.
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A couple in the link below, I used to have in my collection, they do certainly look good grouped together. A great piece of Scandinavian design. :)
https://picasaweb.google.com/114212950044348042742/ScandinavianGlass?authkey=Gv1sRgCJOD2veP7f6DrwE#5714502852456790578
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They are very elegant little things, Greg, and I like the violet i-color. I really can't imagine much utility for them, though, as functional glass. There are nice little glasses from the series all that thin elegant Sarpaneva stuff in those colors is very nice.
Rob
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Thanks Rob. They certainly are more aesthetically pleasing than functional. I've seen the i-glass decanters before, although haven't come across any of the little glasses. I see this range was also produced in clear colourless glass.
:)