Timo Sarpaneva vases

This pair of glass vases, model Pullo, was designed by Timo Sarpaneva and produced by Iittala in Finland in 1956. The design belongs to Sarpaneva’s early and highly influential work in glass, where organic form and subtle surface effects were used to emphasize the material itself rather than applied decoration. Pullo is today regarded as a classic example of Finnish mid-century studio-influenced industrial glass.

Both vases are free-blown in colored glass and share the characteristic rounded, bottle-like silhouette with a softly swelling body and a narrow, slightly pinched neck. The pair consists of two different blue tones: one lighter, greyish blue with gentle internal variations, and one deeper cobalt blue with greater optical density. The glass shows natural tonal shifts and subtle internal textures that result from the blowing process, giving each piece an individual expression while maintaining a balanced visual relationship as a pair.

The surfaces are smooth and glossy, with minor signs of use consistent with age, visible primarily as light wear rather than damage. There are no cracks or chips, and the vases remain structurally sound. The condition is excellent vintage, retaining clarity and depth of color, with small traces of handling that are typical for glass objects of this period.

The Pullo vases reflect the Scandinavian modernist emphasis on purity of form, material honesty, and restrained elegance. They function equally well as sculptural objects or functional vessels and can be displayed individually or as a matched pair.

Each vase measures approximately 10.5 cm in diameter and 16.5 cm in height, corresponding to about 4.1 inches in diameter and 6.5 inches in height.