Timo Sarpaneva vase

This hand-blown glass bottle, model Pullo, was designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1957 and produced by Iittala in Finland. Exemplifying the pared-down elegance and material clarity of Scandinavian modernism, the piece is rendered in transparent olive green glass, with a refined silhouette that emphasizes proportion, transparency, and tactile simplicity.

The form consists of a cylindrical body that tapers subtly toward a slender, elongated neck, which ends in a small, softly rounded spout. The transition between the body and neck is fluid, and the profile is uninterrupted by handles or applied decoration, underscoring the functional purity and sculptural presence of the design. The coloration shows a gentle gradient, with the glass thickening slightly toward the base, resulting in deeper tonal saturation in those areas. The base retains a visible pontil mark—a trace of its hand-blown origin—and is inscribed with Sarpaneva’s signature and the year of production, confirming its authenticity.

Timo Sarpaneva (1926–2006) was one of the most influential Finnish designers of the 20th century, with a body of work that spanned glass, textiles, ceramics, and industrial design. His early collaborations with Iittala were instrumental in transforming the company’s international reputation, and his approach to glass, in particular, introduced a sculptural sensibility to utilitarian forms. Rather than emphasizing ornament or surface treatment, Sarpaneva explored the expressive capacities of the material itself—its weight, color, transparency, and light-reflecting properties.

The Pullo bottle embodies many of these concerns. Though originally designed for practical use, the object is equally a study in controlled line and proportion, standing at the intersection of art object and functional vessel. It reflects a period in postwar Finnish design when the boundary between studio craft and industrial design was being reimagined, and when designers like Sarpaneva were redefining the visual language of household objects.

Produced by Iittala, a company founded in 1881 and internationally celebrated by the 1950s, the Pullo model belongs to a lineage of high-quality glass that was both utilitarian and collectible. Iittala’s design direction under Sarpaneva and contemporaries like Tapio Wirkkala helped shape the global perception of Scandinavian design as timeless, modern, and materially honest.

The condition of this example is good, with expected signs of age and gentle use, including light surface wear. There are no structural flaws or cracks, and the glass retains clarity and integrity.

The dimensions are 20 cm in height and 9 cm in diameter (approximately 7.87 × 3.54 inches). This bottle remains a classic representation of Sarpaneva’s vision and a benchmark in mid-century Finnish glass design—modest in scale but rich in form and material expression.