All posts tagged: iittala

Iittala X Issey Miyake

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A few weeks ago I attended a preview for the new Iittala X Issey Miyake Collection at the MoMA Design Store in New York City. The collection, which combines the Finnish craftsmanship of Iittala with the iconic style of fashion designer Issey Miyake, includes high quality ceramic plates, platters, cups, and a tealight candleholder; a glass vase; and textiles including a pleated totebag, a “table flower” in two sizes, napkins, place mats, and cushion covers. A color palette of white, pink, green, gray unites the modern, yet soft pieces. The MoMA Design Store will be exclusively sell the collection through May 2016. All images courtesy of Iittala, except where noted.

Tanssi Tableware Collection from Iittala

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New from the iconic Finnish brand Iittala, the Tanssi tableware series features illustrations by Finnish artist Klaus Haapaniemi. The group of dishes, plates, mugs, and other decorative pieces were inspired by Haapaniemi’s visual designs for the Finnish National Opera production of The Cunning Little Vixen, a Czech opera by Leoš Janácek that premiered in January 2015. The story, which looks at the co-existence of animals and humans and the eternal circle of life, comes alive on tableware shapes created by Finnish designer Heikki Orvola. Reflections from both ancient Oriental and Slavic imagery, as well as traditional stories appear in the drawings of deers, badgers, vixen, and foxes. The earthy color palette coordinates with all current Iittala glassware, including the brand new desert color now available for the Aalto vase. All images courtesy of Iittala.

Iittala’s Ruutu Vase Collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

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Finnish brand Iittala has teamed up with the Paris-based designers (and this year’s London Design Medalists) Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec to design Ruutu, a collection of 10 vases available in five sizes and seven colors. Ruutu, which means diamond or square in Finnish, can be combined to make seamless installations where delicate, watercolor-like palettes and light seem to melt together like molten glass. Like Ittala’s iconic Alvar Aalto collection, Ruutu is created in Iittala’s Finnish factory where each vase takes seven craftsmen 24 hours to produce symmetrical items that still look and feel handmade. Each vase has the designers’ name engraved on the base. The vases will be available for purchase in early 2015. All images courtesy Iittala. A little video where the designers discuss their design:

Vitriini Glass Boxes

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There are jewelry boxes and then there are boxes that become the jewels. Created by glass designer Anu Penttinen, Vitriini is a new line from the Finnish design brand iittala that allows you to showcase small favorite items in your own little mantlepiece museum. In total, there are 22 variations in size and color in a choice of glass, metal, and wood components. The Vitriini boxes are currently available in the United States and prices vary depending on the size and color. The small boxes (2.4” x 2.4”) range from $45-$100, and large boxes (4.3” x 4.3”) range from $70-$165. Speaking of Finnish design, Helsinki has been announced as the World Design Capital for 2012. This award is a new initiative of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design that is given to city that uses design from a “social, cultural, and economical perspective” to reinvent itself. Previous Design Capitals include Turin in 2008 and Seoul in 2010.