Form. Function. Quality. These three principles are the essence of Iittala.

The simple mantra has yielded timeless results for over a century. Since Iittala was founded in Iittala, Finland, in 1881, they have continued to uphold their other motto, too: Quality never goes out of fashion.

Alvar Aalto, a key designer for Iittala in the 1930s, and creator of the Alvar Aalto Vase, “the most iconic glass object in the world,” designed forever-modern objects, which are still captivating today. Although his vase became world-famous with Iittala, it was meant, as with many of his other glass objects, to be used to decorate buildings he had designed.

In the making of an Aalto Vase, part of the Aalto Collection, seven expert craftsmen work together for twelve stages and thirty hours. Each Aalto Vase is mouth-blown in Iittala, Finland. Because of the hand craftsmanship that is constant in Iittala’s glass Aalto Vase, you know that each is unique and has the touch of some of the finest glass-makers in the world.

Alvar Aalto, along with wife Aino Aalto, and others such as Kaj Franck, revolutionized Iittala and glassware everywhere. In the 1930s and 40s, the world began to appreciate functionalism and modernism, and Iittala’s Scandinavian style became just that. Along with the Aalto Vase, Iittala also released many other breakthrough collections in the early to mid-1900s that are still popular today, like Aino Aalto (1932). A thoughtful series that harnesses the spirit of water with bright yet mellow oceanic color, this design undoubtedly has stood the test of time. The modern tumblers fit any occasion and would make for a summery splash of vibrant color to your tablescape.

Or what about Kaj Franck’s 1958 collection Kartio? In this series, Franck “mastered the creation of the basic drinking glass,” according to Iittala. I concur, with the simple yet futuristic angles and curves, once again complemented by undertones of deep hues, sending a message that only a creation so effortlessly serene can send. The pitchers featured in this over half-century-old Finnish glass collection aren’t quite timeless–they still look like they are from the future even this long after their introduction!

The iconic Aino Aalto collection paired with Kastehelmi and Kartio

But perhaps Iittala’s most unique and artful glass decor creation is the Birds by Toikka collection, which began in 1972. These signature Iittala creatures are designed by Oiva Toikka, who continued to add to the collection with his passion for art glass and nature before he passed away in 2019. The beautiful birds are the masterful intersection of reality and abstract thinking—a poetic symbol of life. These birds are precisely handcrafted in Finland, where Oiva Toikka’s legacy lives on today.

One final collection that you may find interesting is Taika, designed by Klaus Haapaniemi, a series using largely porcelain materials as opposed to Iittala’s classic glass. This collection certainly takes inspiration from China, the birthplace of porcelain. In fact, many Chinese porcelain products share the same style of art adorning the tableware in Taika. Taika, meaning “magic” in Finnish, certainly represents this mysterious collection, which revolves around meaningful, semi-realistic paintings of animals and plants throughout the mugs, plates, saucers, and platters available throughout the collection.

Iittala also features flatware and kitchen tools, to go along with their hallmark glass (and porcelain) creations.
For even more unique Iittala collections, visit us in-store or online at Didriks, where we are in the midst of a 20% off sale (Ends 7/24/22) for all Iittala products, as well as 20% off Royal Copenhagen and Moomin’ By Arabia. Also, find any other outdoor furnishing, dinnerware, and tablescape needs you may have here at Didriks!

Blog written by: Oliver Henke