Alvar Aalto was Finnish architect and design pioneer born in 1898. Known for his organic designs, Aalto's career was marked by a blend of architecture, furniture, and glassware, making him a key figure in Scandinavian modernism. His innovative approach to materials and forms, particularly his use of laminated wood and glass, set him apart in the design world.
One of Aalto's most iconic creations is the Savoy Vase, also known as the Aalto Vase. The story of this vase begins in 1936 when Aalto, alongside his wife Aino, entered the Karhula-Iittala Glass Design Competition. Their oflyt named entry "Eskimoerindens skinnbuxa" (Eskimo woman’s leather trousers), won first prize. The vase's design, was inspired by various sources, including the leather breeches of a traditional Sami woman, waves in water, and the contours of Finland's lake-rich landscape. The name "Aalto" itself means "wave" in Finnish, adding another layer of meaning to the design.
The Savoy Vase, created for the interior of the Savoy Restaurant in Helsinki, which the Aaltos were designing at the time. The vase's production posed significant manufacturing challenges, using a wooden mold that was slowly burned away, a technique that highlighted the vase's organic nature. Today, each vase is still hand-blown at Iittala, maintaining the original hand-crafted quality.
The vase gained international acclaim when it was presented at the 1937 Paris World's Fair, thereby cementing Aalto's reputation as a master of modern design.
In 1935 Aino and Alvar Aalto founded the company Artek together, with the aim of producing and selling their designs. Aino Aalto was the head designer and at Artek she created both glassware and furniture design.
To this day the Savoy Vase remains one of Alvar Aalto’s most famous and best appreciated designs. It is a great symbol of thee Aalto legacy.
