Savoy thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Savoy

Vase
1937 (made)
Artist/Maker
Karhula (manufacturer)
Aalto, Alvar (designer)
Place of origin
Finland (made)

Vase, Finland, designed by Alvar Aalto, for Karhula glassworks, 1937

Object details

Categories
Glass
Vases
Object type
Vase
TitleSavoy (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Mould-blown glass
Brief description
Vase, Finland, designed by Alvar Aalto, for Karhula glassworks, 1937
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.5cm
  • Width: 18.1cm
  • Length: 17.9cm
Style
20TH CONT
Marks and inscriptions
'Karhula 22 IX 37' acid etched (Makers's mark)
Gallery label
The design for the Savoy Restaurant and its furnishings were commissioned by the Ahlström corporation which included the Karhula and Iittala glassworks. The vase is one of a group of designs which won first prize in a competition organised by Karhula Iittala in 1936. The series was first shown internationally at Paris in 1937. See also C.194 and 195-1987 for examples in the same series made in 1986. Designed by Aalto for the Savoy Restaurant in Helsinki; this example is one of the first made of bottle glass and blown into a wooden mould
Object history
This vase was one of 60 made to be given to journalists on their visit to the factory in 1937. The date etched on the base of the vase indicates the date of this visit. It is rare to find vases surviving from this series, especially outside of Finland. (Notes after meeting with Timo Riekko, Curator at the Alvar Aalto Museum, Finland, 25/04/2017).
Bibliographic reference
Opie,J: Scandinavia; ceramics & glass in the 20thC, cat 189
Other number
9601 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.226-1987

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O3507/savoy-vase-aalto-alvar/
Download as: JSON