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Alvar Aalto Collection city vases

ALVAR AALTO COLLECTION

In 1936, Alvar Aalto’s series of glass vases won first prize in the 1936 Karhula-Iittala Glass Design Competition. Compared to the decorative objects of the time, the simple yet organic shape of this vase was a revolutionary statement. Since then, the Aalto vase has become a symbol of Finnish design and one of the most famous glass objects in the world.

Each and every vase in the Alvar Aalto Collection continues to be mouthblown at the Iittala factory and comes in a wide range of colours and sizes. The collection is a staple of modern Scandinavian design and Iittala’s most iconic series. Additional items inspired by Aalto and created by Pentagon Design such as steel bowls, wooden platters and tealight candleholders can also be found in the Alvar Aalto Collection.

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Iittala designers

Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was a leading figure in modern architecture and design. Born in Finland, he built an influential international legacy through a lifelong creative partnership with architect Aino Marsio, designing major public buildings, private homes, and furniture closely connected to his architecture.

Known for blending functionalism with beauty, nature, and innovative use of materials, Aalto helped define Finnish design on a global stage. His work gained international recognition in the 1930s, and his iconic Savoy Vase, launched in 1937, remains one of the world’s most celebrated glass designs and a timeless Iittala classic.

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Reshaping timelessness

In 1936 Alvar Aalto shaped groundbreaking forms of glass, later known as Iittala’s Alvar Aalto Collection. This is where timeless design began for us. Versatile, always in season and made to last from generation to generation. This legacy together with the Nordic lifestyle of functional beauty is what has guided Iittala ever since.

Mouthblown at Iittala Glass Factory in Finland

At the core of this lasting design is unique craftmanship. All the glass items in the Aalto collection are created at our own Glass Factory in Finland. Using sophisticated methods like mouth blowing and hand cutting, each vase becomes an unparalleled work of design. They are the ever-contemporary centerpieces that carry the idea of lasting beauty from season to season, year to year.