Nyman for Nuutajarvi 'Huntu' (Veil) vase

A couple of months ago, a customer asked us to find him a large Scandinavian vase from the 1940s or 50s, in a price range that ensured we should be able to come up with something special. If he only had room for one piece from this era in his collection, what should it be?

We've hedged our bets by getting two pieces, this Gunnel Nyman vase and the Lindstrand vase I'll list shortly. Which, if either, will he choose? (We're hoping the credit crunch has treated him kindly.) We think both are marvellous designs, special and very collectible. See what you think.

"Nyman," say Pina and Vigier in Scandinavian Glass: 1930-2000, Smoke & Ice, "was one of the most influential designers in Scandinavian Glass. Her ability to strike the perfect balance between form and function was remarkable. She often used minimal decoration such as controlled bubbles in simple organic forms... From 1946 to 1948, while working at Nuutajarvi Notsjo, she reached the peak of her career, which was unfortunately cut short by illness and her subsequent death [at age 39]." 

Nyman worked with the glassblowers, experimenting and discovering the potential of their craftsmanship.  This was new for Finnish designers, but was the model for those who followed.  Nyman's most famous designs are probably the Parband (String of Pearls) vase, the Serpentini (Serpentine) vase and the Huntu (veil) vase.  The Huntu was our choice, given the task we were set.

Many other designers have done vases with controlled bubbles, but this is the best - the bubbles so fine, the shape so perfect.  This was designed in 1947.  The details on the base tell us that it was made in 1956.

I'm afraid the video doesn't show the bubbles unless you view it on Youtube and, ideally, click "watch in high quality" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7S_FD-2GQc

Height: 28 cm
Width: 12 cm
Weight: 2330 g
Engraved "G Nyman Nuutajarvi Notsjo-56" to the base
Condition: light wear to the base, three small scratches (longest 4mm), three longer scratches (about 1.8 cm each) a few centimetres above the base.

Share on Facebook

Our Reference: 2795

This item has sold for US $1,050.00

We only sell beautiful glass