Timo Sarpaneva vase

This is a handblown art glass bottle or vase known as the “Pullo” model, often referred to as the “Bird Bottle” designed by Timo Sarpaneva and produced by Iittala in Finland in 1957. The underside bears an etched signature reading “Timo Sarpaneva Iittala -57” verifying the designer and the production year during the early period of Sarpaneva’s influential work with the Finnish glassworks.

The vase features a softly bulbous, organic shape that tapers toward a small cylindrical neck, culminating in a minimal, asymmetrical spout detail that evokes the character of a bird’s head or beak. The form is crafted in a single layer of subtly transparent violet-colored glass, a hue that varies in saturation depending on the thickness of the glass at different points of the body. The entire piece is made from one gather of glass, shaped by hand and free from mold lines, highlighting the traditional glassblowing craftsmanship and the individuality of each example produced.

Condition is excellent vintage, with only slight signs of handling and use, including minor surface wear and air bubbles inherent to the handmade process. The structure is intact and maintains full clarity, with no chips, cracks, or restoration.

Timo Sarpaneva (1926–2006) was one of Finland’s foremost postwar designers and a key figure in elevating Scandinavian design on the global stage. At Iittala, he pioneered a modern sculptural approach to glassmaking, balancing technical refinement with abstract form. His Pullo series, introduced in the 1950s, was characterized by organic silhouettes and expressive minimalism, often interpreted as poetic reflections of nature and Finnish identity. These works helped redefine the boundaries between utilitarian glassware and autonomous art objects.

The dimensions of the vase are 11 cm in diameter and 16 cm in height, equivalent to approximately 4.3 inches in diameter and 6.3 inches in height.