Iittala

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Pot by Timo Sarpaneva 1960

Iittala , founded as a glassworks in 1881, is a Finnish design brand specializing in designer objects, crockery and cookware. Iittala's official i logo was designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1956 .

Iittala has strong design roots in glassware and glass art, which is reflected in many of its products. So z. B. in the early drafts of the Aino Aalto glasses, which were designed by Aino Aalto in 1932; Alvar Aalto's Savoy Vase ( Aalto Vase ) from 1936; Oiva Toikka's Birds by Toikka glass collection of birds , which has been produced since 1962, his Kastehelmi glass series from 1964 and Tapio Wirkkala's Ultima Thule glass series from 1968.

Over time, Iittala has expanded its products from glass to other materials such as ceramics and metal, following the core philosophy of progressive, elegant and timeless design, such as Kaj Franck's Teema ceramic tableware from 1952 and Timo Sarpaneva's cast-iron Sarpaneva pot from 1960 has remained true to creating.

Iittala focuses on timeless design, which can be seen not only in older designs, but also in modern classics such as the Tools cookware series , designed by Björn Dahlström in 1998. Other examples of this are Heikki Orvola's Kivi candlesticks from 1988, Alfredo Häberli's Origo ceramic dishes from 1999 and his Essence series of glasses designed in 2001; the Vitriini series designed by Anu Penttinen in 2010 and the Sarjaton tableware series , which works with ceramics, glass, wood and textile and was designed by Harri Koskinen, Aleksi Kuokka, Musuta and Samuji in 2012.

Iittala design history

Iittala's continued success is certainly due to the close cooperation with great designers and the fact that the end product is always created in accordance with the wishes of the designer, but also by the fact that one has always remained true to his basic values ​​and philosophy and the Focus on producing high quality products that have been renewed over time with new colors and variations. The design archive introduced by Erkki Vesanto since 1936 ensures that the different designs are not too closely related.

With a few exceptions, Iittala's glassblowers, product models and designs still came from Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Belgium until the 1920s.

Iittala's first own designer was Alfred Gustafsson. On the initiative of the then deputy director Claës Norstedt in 1903, Alfred Gustafsson created one of his most famous works, the Great Men drinking glass series . This series was a passive protest against Russian rule and depicted men who were exemplary of Finnish society and culture at the time.

The 1920s and 30s were Iittala's crystal glass era. In 1929 Iittala was recognized by the world exhibition in Barcelona for the crystal glasses that were produced in their glassworks.

In 1932, Göran Hongell was hired by Karhula-Iittala, becoming the first designer ever to be employed by a Finnish glassworks. Hongell initiated the collaboration between designers and glassblowers by taking designs with him to the glass workshops in order to clarify the technical feasibility of the objects to be blown. Karhula-Iittala also worked with many other designers such as Gunnel Nyman and Lisa Johansson-Pape.

Aino and Alvar Aalto brought functionalism to Finland and Iittala in the 1930s. In 1932, Aino Aalto took part in the Karhula Iittala design competition for the first time and came second with her Bölgeblick series. The glass was then presented to the international public in London in 1933 and at the Milan Triennale in 1936, where Aino Aalto won the gold medal. The design was not only characterized by its simplicity, but also by a new form of functionality. The glasses were stackable. Aino-Aalto glasses are still made today.

In 1936 Alvar Aalto designed the Aalto ( Savoy ) vase , his most famous object, which was first shown at the 1937 Paris World's Fair. The Aalto vase is world famous and is still produced in Iittala's glassworks.

Antero Järvinen was director of Iittala in 1946 and at the time had the foresight to see that the designers would become the driving force behind Iittala. This was shown in a competition in Stockholm, when Iittala's designer Göran Hongell's proposals not only dealt with the sandblasting and engraving of common vase shapes, but also for the first time with the actual design of an engraving itself. Tapio Wirkkala won first place in this competition and the 2nd and 3rd place went to Kaj Franck. Järvinen was very satisfied with the result of the competition and Wirkkala and Franck were given a free hand to design new glass products in Iittala's glassworks. Thanks to the efforts of Kaj Franck and Tapio Wirkkala, attitudes towards glass changed. Purity and refraction began to be valued from a completely new perspective.

Since the late 1940s, the designers Göran Hongell and Erkki Vesanto concentrated on series production, while Tapio Wirkkala and Kaj Franck focused on the design of glass art. The results were evident in the Karhula-Iittala catalog from 1949, which was very different from its predecessors and contained many objects of real beauty.

Göran Hongell's Aarne glass series, designed in 1948, won the gold medal at the 1954 Milan Triennale - and is still in production.

Järvinen's attempt to bring design to the fore as a relevant feature continued when Håkan Södermaström took over responsibility in 1950. He also promoted the goal of placing the entire spectrum of products under the design aspect. At the exhibitions in Helsinki in 1950, Karhula-Iittala was awarded gold for its products and the public voted Tapio Wirkkalas Kantarelli as the most beautiful object in the exhibition.

The 1950s were another highlight for Finnish design. It started with the Milan Triennial in 1951 when Finland received 25 prizes. Tapio Wirkkala was awarded three Grands Prix and Timo Sarpaneva also received a silver medal. In 1954, Wirkkala received another Grand Prix, followed by another, which the 1957 Milan Triennial awarded Timo Sarpaneva.

In 1952, Kaj Franck, who was also the artistic director of Arabia, designed the Kilta series for Arabia. The design of this series, which was renamed Teema in 1981 , combines all of Iittala's central ideas and values, including high quality and a timeless and multifunctional design. Teema is still in production today and new colors and sizes are regularly designed by Heikki Orvola and Oiva Toikka to ensure that the new pieces maintain the spirit of Franckian design.

Iittala set high standards for its products. Löflund according to z. B. Timo Sarpaneva's Orkidea , of which only a few pieces can be made in an hour, only one quality control and it may well be that none of the end products meet the strict quality guidelines. The design and high quality of Iittala products ensure that Iittala enjoys high recognition all over the world, such as: For example, House Beautiful magazine won Orkidea as “Most Beautiful Object” in 1954.

With the rise of glass art, the well-known designers themselves formed the basis for the sales success of the products. The red i-label designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1956 for his i-collection became a symbol for the Iittala brand, even if the addition “Karhula” was used for Iittala's glass products until the early 1960s.

Kaj Franck designed the cone-shaped glass series Kartio in 1956.

Timo Sarpaneva's cast iron pot Sarpaneva from 1960 proves that the essential quality of the materials can be reduced to their basic essence by a creative and imaginative artist.

Oiva Toikka created the series Kastehelmi (dew drops) in 1964, which is still produced together with Tapio Wirkkala's Ultima Thule glasses from 1968 until today.

Oiva Toikka's best-known design creations, Birds by Toikka , have been produced since 1971.

In 1972 Heikki Orvola designed the Aurora glass series for Iittala. With Fujiwo Ishimoto he designed the Illusia tableware for Arabia.

Valto Kokko created his first extensive glass series Avec in 1973. His most famous series Otso dates from 1978 and has been part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York since 1981. Heikki Orvola's Kivi chandeliers from 1988 are another design that shows the timelessness of the Iittala range. The breathtakingly designed cookware series Tools was designed by Björn Dahlström in 1998 in collaboration with world-class chefs.

In 1998, Stefan Lindfors designed the striking and unconventionally open handled ceramic series Ego .

The close collaboration with selected international designers led to designs that remained true to the basic values ​​of Iittala, but also expanded the shape of the glass products, as can be seen in Alfredo Häberli's glasses and carafes from the Essence series .

The striped ceramic egg cups by Alfredo Häberli from 2001 proved so successful that the entire Origo series was striped, which made them an ideal counterbalance to Iittala's Teema series.

In 2010 Anu Penttinen's clear and strong colored glass boxes Vitriini marked another highlight and a new direction for Iittala products.

With a modern interpretation of Finnish traditions and six designers, the Sarjaton tableware series , which means “no series” because colors and styles are interchangeable, was successfully launched in 2012 using ceramics, glass, wood and textiles as materials.

Designer

Goran Hongell

Göran Hongell (1902–1973) was one of the pioneers of the Finnish glass tradition. Hired by Karhula-Iittala in 1932, he became the first designer permanently employed by a Finnish glassworks. To create his glass, he worked with glass blowers to develop special techniques and colors. His creations were simple and unadorned and reflected the spirit of modernity combined with a weakened form of Art Deco.

Designs for Iittala: Silko (1938); Maininki (1938); Säde (1939); Hongellin hattu (1941); Aarne (1948); Aulanko (1950).

Designs still in production at Iittala today: Aarne (1948).

Awards: Aarne (1948): Gold - Milan Triennale (1954).

Aino Aalto

Aino Aalto (1894–1949) designed buildings, interiors, furniture and textiles. Some of Aino Aalto's forays into functionalism resulted in glass products that were simple, stackable, and space efficient. The design, inspired by the rings that appear on the surface of the water when you throw a stone into the water, together with the many possible uses of the glasses, made Bölgeblick an internationally renowned design classic. Aino Aalto also designed together with her husband Alvar Aalto.

Designs for Iittala: Bölgeblick series (1932); Aalto glasses (in collaboration with Alvar Aalto - 1933); Aalto Blume (in collaboration with Alvar Aalto - 1939).

Designs that are still produced by Iittala: Bölgeblick , glasses, jugs , plates - today renamed Aino Aalto .

Awards: Exhibition architecture for Artek : Grand Prix - Milan Triennale (1936); Bölgeblick (1932): Gold - Milan Triennale (1954).

Alvar Aalto

Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was a master of modern architecture. He designed, among many other things, concert halls, libraries, hospitals and museums around the world. His unique style and extraordinary talent can be seen in the many objects he has created, from furniture to a series of vases, which culminated in his greatest design work, the “Savoy” vase. Like many of his designs, this renowned work of art has developed a life of its own and was first seen at the 1937 Paris World's Fair. He and his wife Aino Aalto have often worked together in their artistic creation.

Designs for Iittala: “Aalto glasses” (in collaboration with Aino Aalto - 1933); “Aalto / Savoy” bowl (1936); “ Savoy / Aalto Vase ” (1936); "Aalto / Savoy double" (1936); “Aalto Flower” (in collaboration with Aino Aalto - 1939).

Designs that are still being produced by Iittala: “Aalto Collection”, bowl, lantern, vase, flower set.

Tapio Wirkkala

Tapio Wirkkala (1915–1985) designed a. a. Banknotes, graphics, sculptures, furniture, jewelry and glass products. His versatility in terms of design has allowed him to create more than 400 glass products and objects. Wirkkala had exceptional skills in glassmaking and his close collaboration with the workers resulted in new techniques and masterful design objects.

Designs for Iittala: Finestra (1946); Pitsi (1947); Kantarell i (1951); Viinirypäle / Päärynä (1947); Kalvolan kanto (1948); Jääpala (1951); Jäävuori (1951); Tokyo (1954); Tapio (1954); Marsalkansauva (1954); Rondo (1957); Romantica (1960); Paadrin (1960); Jäänsärkiä (1968).

Designs still produced by Iittala: Kantarelli (Chantarelle); Gaissa ; Ultima Thule , Tapio .

Awards: Kantarelli , Viinirypäle / Päärynä , Varsanjalka , Kalvolan kanto , Tunturi , Jäkälä , Jääpala (1951); Jäävuori - Milan Triennial (1951); Tokyo , Tapio , Marsalkansauva - Milan Triennial (1954); Tiima , Rondo - Milan Triennial (1957); Romantica (1960); Paadrin Jää - Milan Triennial (1960); Jäänsärkiä , Ultima Thule : Bowl - Milan Triennale (1968); Lunning Prize (1951); Order of the Lion of Finland (1955); Prinz Eugen Medal (1980).

Kaj Franck

Kaj Franck (1911–1989), the conscience of Finnish design removed everything superfluous so that his designs were reduced to the bare essentials. Some of his most famous objects are the Teema tableware and the Kartio drinking glass series.

Designs for Iittala: “ Kaivonkatsoja ” (1946); Lakaisija (1946); Onkia (1946); Teema (Kilta) (1952); Kartio (1956); Tupa (1948).

Designs still produced by Iittala: Teema; Kartio; Purnukka; Ateenan aamu .

Awards: Milan Triennial (1951); Milan Triennial (1954); Milan Triennial (1957); Lunning Prize (1955); Order of the Lion of Finland (1957), Prince Eugene Medal (1964).

Alfredo Häberli

Alfredo Häberli (1964) is an international designer based in Zurich. Alfredo Häberli combines tradition with innovation, joy and energy in his designs.

Designs for Iittala: Essence (2001); Kid's Stuff (2001); Senta (2003); Tris (2003); Origo (1999).

Designs still produced by Iiittala : Essence, Senta; Origo .

Heikki Orvola

Heikki Orvola (1943) is an enduring driving force behind Finnish design. Orvola works with glass, ceramics, cast iron and textiles. In 1998 Orvola won the prestigious Kaj Franck Prize.

Designs for Iittala: Aurora (1972); Kivi (1987); Palazzo Pro Arte (1988); Verna Kelch (1998); Verna Vase (2004); Korento (2011).

Designs still in production by Iittala: Kivi ; Korento ; Aurora .

Awards: Kaj Franck Design Prize (1998); Order of the Lion of Finland (1984).

Timo Sarpaneva

Timo Sarpaneva (1926–2006), a master of materials such as glass, porcelain, cast iron and textiles as well as graphic art. Sarpaneva's I line became Iittala's trademark in 1956. Sarpaneva is one of the great personalities who are responsible for the good reputation of Finnish design worldwide. His works can be found in international art and design museums and Orkidea was once described as the most beautiful object on earth.

Designs for Iittala: Lansetti II (1952); Orkidea (1954); Tumbler i (1956); Tsaikka (1957); stackable bottle (1959); Sarpaneva (1960); Festivo (1966); Arkipelago (1979); Claritas (1984).

Designs still produced by Iittala: Tsaikka ; Orkidea ; Claritas ; Festivo ; Sarpaneva .

Awards: I-Line (1954); Lunning Prize (1956); Order of the Lion of Finland (1958), Honorary Doctorate: Aalto University (1993).

Oiva Toikka

Oiva Kalervo Toikka (1931) is one of the best known names when it comes to Finnish glass design and world famous for his Birds collection . His works resound in fanciful, rich, bold and streamlined aesthetics of Nordic design. His Birds collection has so far produced 400 unique glass art objects and the selection and range of the Kastelhelmi series are very popular.

Designs for Iittala: Kastehelmi (1964); Flora (1966); Birds (1971); Annual Cube (1977); Niili (1989); Delta (1989); Vaskooli (1988); Full Moon (1989).

Designs still in production by Iittala: Birds ; Annual Cube ; Kastehelmi .

Awards: Lunning Prize (1970); Order of the Lion of Finland (1980), World Glass Now 85 (YEAR); Kaj Franck Design Prize (1992); Prince Eugene Medal (2001).

Issey Miyake

Iittala X Issey Miyake Collection 30 articles made of textiles, porcelain and glass.

history

Glass bowl Mariskooli by Iittala

The Iittala glass factory was founded in 1881 in the center of Kalvola in southern Finland. The founder was the Swede Petrus Magnus Abrahamsson. At the beginning the workers came from Sweden because there weren't enough good glassblowers in Finland.

In 1917 the ownership of Iittala changed to A. Ahlström Aktiengesellschaft, which also owned a glass factory in Karhula. Until the 1950s, both factories were run under the common name of Karhula-Iittala Glass Factory.

At the beginning, the glass factory mainly produced pharmacy glass, bottles and oil lamp glass. In addition, a small number of household glass was produced.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Iittala moved away from traditional glass art and glass processing. Iittala increasingly began to use its own designs and processing techniques and thus became a pioneer in a glass industry. The “ Aino Aalto ” glass products by the designer of the same name and the “Aalto vase” by Alvar Aalto in 1936 were the first Iittala products to attract international attention. Production came to a halt during the Second World War, as neither enough raw materials nor workers were available.

Production started again in 1946. However, after this break the factory was in poor condition. But Iittala grew quickly in the years after the war and established itself as a successful company. Only the oil crisis in the 1970s dampened business development. Production had to be reduced, which eventually led to layoffs. This recession lasted into the 1980s.

In 1987 A. Ahlström Aktiengesellschaft sold the Iittala glass factory to Wärtsilä Aktiengesellschaft, which also owned the Nuutajärvi glass factory in Urjala. The glass factory in Iittala and Nuutajärvi were combined and run as Iittala-Nuutajärvi Aktiengesellschaft. This corporation was again taken over in 1990 by Hackman AG. From 2003 the company acted independently under the name Iittala AG. In 2004 Iittala AG was converted into an investment company under the joint management of the Iittala Management Board and ABN AMRO Capital. Finally, at the end of 2006, the company was converted into a public stock corporation under the name Iittala Group AG.

On March 9, 2007, the group's main owner and management decided to sell and issue shares with the aim of listing on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The sale and issuance of shares began on March 12th, but was discontinued on March 27th. The company management changed its decision and no longer wanted to be listed on the stock exchange. In July 2007, Fiskars announced that it had signed a contract for all shares in Iittala Group AG. The deal became legally binding at the end of August 2007.

Glass museums

In 1971 the Iittala Glass Museum was founded in addition to the glass factory. The Iittala Glass Museum, along with four other museums, collects, researches and shows the history of Arabia, Hackman, Iittala and Rörstrand.

Corporate philosophy

"Lasting design against one-way culture." - The company wants to produce products that withstand time and changing trends.

Production facilities

  • Iittala Glass Factory in Iittala in the Province of Southern Finland
  • Arabia ceramic factory in Helsinki

literature

  • Marianne Aav, Eeva Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . Complete history with all designers . Ed .: Marianne Aav. Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-89790-250-3 .
  • Marianne Aav, among others: Kaj Franck Universal Forms . Design Museum, 2011, ISBN 978-952-9878-75-8 .

Web links

Commons : Iittala  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 30 .
  2. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 165 .
  3. ^ A b Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006.
  4. ^ A b Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 25 .
  5. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 23 .
  6. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 27 .
  7. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 208 f .
  8. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 31 f .
  9. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 30, 32 .
  10. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 32 .
  11. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 102 .
  12. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 41 .
  13. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 31 .
  14. ↑ a b Aav, among others: Kaj Franck Universal Forms . 2011, p. 80 f .
  15. ^ A b Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 38 .
  16. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 41, 45 .
  17. ^ Aav, among others: Kaj Franck Universal Forms . 2011, p. 182, 185, 197 .
  18. ^ Ada Louise Huxtable: Our Architecture: Collected Reflections on a Century of Change . Walker Publishing, New York 2008, ISBN 0-8027-1707-1 .
  19. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 214 f .
  20. ↑ Tools by Iittala . architonic. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  21. ^ Widar Halén, Kerstin Wickman: Scandinavian design beyond the myth: fifty years of design from the Nordic countries . Arvinius, 2003, ISBN 91-974413-5-X , p. 189 .
  22. ^ Dwell, LLC: Dwell . Dwell, LLC, October 2005, ISSN  1530-5309 , pp. 106 f . ( google.com [accessed November 30, 2012]).
  23. ↑ Origo mix juhlistaa Häberlin raitojen kymmenvuotista menestystä ( Finnish ) Iittala. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  24. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 212 f .
  25. ↑ Koivisto, Kaisa: Hongell, Göran (1902-1973) . In: Finnish Literature Society . August.
  26. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 27, 208 f .
  27. ↑ Renja, Suominen-Kokkonen: Aino, Aalto (1894–1949) . In: Finnish Literature Society . August.
  28. ^ Eve Maija, Viljo: Alvar, Aalto (1898–1976) . In: Finnish Literature Society . August.
  29. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 31 f., 242 ff .
  30. ↑ Harri, Kalha: Tapio, Wirkkala (1915–1985) . In: Finnish Literature Society . August.
  31. ↑ Kaj Franck vaikuttaa pitkälle tulevaisuuteen (Finnish) . Retrieved December 5, 2014. 
  32. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 252 .
  33. ^ Aav, among others: Kaj Franck Universal Forms . 2011, p. 10, 304, 307, 310 .
  34. ↑ Harri, Kalha: Kaj, Franck (1911–1989) . In: Finnish Literature Society . August.
  35. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 254 .
  36. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 257 .
  37. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 222 ff .
  38. ↑ Kerstin, Smeds: Timo, Sarpaneva (1926-2006) . In: Finnish Literature Society . August.
  39. ^ Honorary Doctorate . Aalto University. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  40. ^ Aav, Viljanen: Iittala - 125 Years of Finnish Glass . 2006, p. 258 .
  41. ^ Kaisa, Koivisto: Oiva, Toikka (1931-) . In: Finnish Literature Society . August.