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Objects№ 001Vase

Iittala Aalto Vase

A vase with wavy walls

Iittala’s clear Aalto vase has an outline that makes it distinctive, and one owner praises it for making flowers easy to arrange.

Made by
Iittala
Designed by
Alvar Aalto
Since
1936
From
€250
Iittala Alvar Aalto Collection, studio photograph (AI-generated image)
AI-generated

Why it's here

The Aalto vase has an uneven, rippling rim instead of a circular opening. Architect Amanda Levete told The Observer that flowers are easy to arrange in it. We like that its unusual shape has a purpose, though we couldn’t find comparative testing of the current 160 mm version.

Alvar Aalto submitted the design to a glassworks competition in 1936. The first series was made for the Finnish section of the 1937 Paris World Exhibition. The familiar 160 mm height came later, in 1957. Iittala still makes the vase in Finland, using mouth-blown glass.

It suits someone who wants a vase with a distinctive outline and doesn’t mind hand-washing it. Skip it if you want glassware that can go in the dishwasher, or a vase you can leave in direct sunlight when filled with water.

Iittala Aalto Vase, studio photograph (AI-generated image)
AI-generated

Worth knowing

  1. An owner’s view

    Architect Amanda Levete told The Observer that flowers are easy to arrange in the vase. That’s one owner’s account, rather than a comparative test of this version.[8]

  2. A 1936 competition

    Alvar Aalto submitted the design to the Karhula-Iittala glassworks competition in 1936. The first glassware series was produced for the Finnish section of the 1937 Paris World Exhibition.[2]

  3. The Savoy name

    The vase takes its other name from Helsinki’s Restaurant Savoy, where it has been used since 1937. Aino and Alvar Aalto used it when designing the restaurant’s furnishings and fixtures.[2][12]

  4. A later height

    The vases became 160 mm high from 1957 onwards. An earlier example documented by the Aalto Foundation stands 140 mm high.[2]

Iittala Aalto Vase, studio photograph (AI-generated image)
AI-generated

The details

  1. Made in Finland

    Iittala says the glass is mouth-blown at its Finnish glass factory, then hand-cut and polished several times.[1]

  2. The clear version

    The 160 mm clear vase, article 1007041, is 16 cm high and 20.8 cm long. Iittala lists its weight as 1.55 kg.[1]

  • Clear, low Alvar Aalto vase shown whole from a front three-quarter angle on white
  • Clear Alvar Aalto vase shown whole from directly above on white
  • Clear Alvar Aalto vase shown whole at an oblique angle on a pale background
Photos: IittalaThe maker's own, unaltered.

What reviewers say

What independent reviewers liked, and what they didn't.

  • The New York Review of Books[7]

    Liked
    In an exhibition review, Martin Filler praised the vase’s clean lines and economical use of material.

Before you buy

Nothing's perfect. This is where it falls short.

  1. Hand wash only

    Iittala specifies hand-washing for this vase. For stubborn stains on glass, it recommends soaking and warns that abrasive pads and scouring powders can scratch the surface.[1][6]

  2. Watch the sunlight

    Iittala warns against leaving a water-filled vase in direct sunlight: concentrated light can damage nearby objects and surfaces. This is general guidance for glass vases.[6]

  3. No listed repair scheme

    The maker’s opened product and terms pages don’t specify a repair programme or breakage-replacement promise for the vase. Specialist glass restoration may still be possible.[1][5]

Good for
People who want a mouth-blown glass vase with an unusual shape for displaying flowers.
Not for
People who want a dishwasher-safe vase or plan to keep a water-filled vase in direct sunlight.

Where to get it

These are the prices we saw on the dates shown. They change, and we don't track stock, so check with the seller.

Each price is in the currency that seller lists it in. Links go to the seller's site. If one is marked “Ad link”, we may earn a commission when you buy. It doesn't affect what we pick.

Would you own it?

Go on. It helps us decide what to look at next.

Specification

Colour
Clear[1]
Height
16 cm[1]
Length
20.8 cm[1]
Weight
1.55 kg[1]
Material
Glass[1]
Production
Mouth-blown, hand-cut and polished[1]
Country of origin
Finland[1]
Design year
1936[2]
Care
Hand wash only[1]
Article number
1007041[1]
EAN
6411920004445[1]

Sources

  1. [1]Alvar Aalto Collection vase 160mm clearIittala · the maker · read 13 Nov 2026
  2. [2]Aalto VaseAlvar Aalto Foundation · the maker · read 13 Nov 2026
  3. [3]1007041 product photographIittala · the maker · read 13 Nov 2026
  4. [4]The Icon of Finnish Design is Born Every DayIittala · the maker · read 13 Nov 2026
See all 14 sources
  1. [5]Terms of saleIittala · the maker · read 13 Nov 2026
  2. [6]Product careIittala · the maker · read 13 Nov 2026
  3. [7]Giant in the WoodsThe New York Review of Books · review · read 13 Nov 2026
  4. [8]Back to the futureThe Guardian · reference · read 13 Nov 2026
  5. [9]Iittala brings iconic Aalto Vase into public architecture for 3daysofdesignICON Magazine · reference · read 13 Nov 2026
  6. [10]Alvar Aalto - SavoyThe Metropolitan Museum of Art · reference · read 13 Nov 2026
  7. [11]“Savoy” VaseCorning Museum of Glass · reference · read 13 Nov 2026
  8. [12]Modernism and the natural world – the designs of Alvar and Aino AaltoV&A · reference · read 13 Nov 2026
  9. [13]Aalto Vase Savoy 160 mm by IittalaConnox · retailer · read 13 Nov 2026
  10. [14]Aalto Vase, 160 mm, transparentFinnish Design Shop · retailer · read 13 Nov 2026

Spotted a mistake? Tell us. Prices last checked 13 Nov 2026.

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