> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.unknowndivide.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Iittala Aalto Vase: Why Alvar Aalto's 1936 Design Is Still Worth Buying - URL: https://www.unknowndivide.com/iittala-aalto-vase-alvar-aalto/ - Published: 2025-07-03T19:20:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T05:56:30.000Z - Description: A wavy glass vase from 1936 that still looks modern. What the Iittala Aalto vase is, how it is made, which size to choose and where to buy one. - Author: unknowndivide staff - Tags: Design, Culture Some design objects feel tied to their decade. The Aalto vase does not. Its wavy, uneven outline was a radical idea when Alvar Aalto drew it in the 1930s, and it still looks fresh on a shelf today. It is also one of the few design icons you can buy new, made in the same factory, without hunting through vintage shops. Here is what the Iittala Aalto vase is, why it matters and where to buy one. *Unknowndivide may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post.* ## What it is The [Aalto vase](https://iittala.com/products/alvar-aalto-collection-vase-160mm-clear?ref=unknowndivide.com) is a glass vase with an asymmetrical, wave-like outline, made by the Finnish glass company Iittala. The designer's surname doubles as a description: Iittala points out that "aalto" is Finnish for wave. The company says Aalto took inspiration from the thousands of lakes in his native Finland, and that his waves combine function and sculpture. The classic version is the 160 millimeter vase in clear glass. According to Iittala, it stands 16 centimeters tall, measures 20.8 centimeters long and weighs 1.55 kilograms, so it has real heft for its size. ## Who designed it Alvar Aalto (1898 to 1976) is best known as an architect. Iittala describes him as a recognized master of modern architecture and design, whose career included concert halls, museums, universities, libraries and private homes around the world. His furniture and houseware designs grew out of that architectural work. The vase dates to 1936, when Aalto's series of glass vases won first prize in the Karhula-Iittala Glass Design Competition. Iittala says the waves went on to win at the 1937 Paris World Fair. Compared with the decorative glass of the time, the simple, organic shape was a revolutionary statement. ## How it is made This is the part that makes the Aalto vase more than a shape. Iittala says each vase goes through a multi-step process at the Iittala glass factory in Finland. First it is mouthblown, then hand cut, then polished several times. Every vase in the Alvar Aalto Collection is still mouthblown at the factory, and Iittala notes that each one is unique. That is worth knowing when you shop. Small differences between two vases are part of how they are made, not a flaw. ## Why it is still worth buying - **It is an original.** Iittala has made the design since 1936, and it calls the collection its most iconic series and a staple of modern Scandinavian design. - **It works with or without flowers.** Iittala pitches the clear vase as a versatile addition to any interior, and the wave shape holds its own as a sculpture on an empty shelf. - **It is handmade.** Mouthblowing, hand cutting and several rounds of polishing are a lot of work for a vase you can still buy new. - **It makes a lasting gift.** Iittala itself suggests it as a gift idea, and a design classic is an easy present to get right. ## Which size and color to pick The [Alvar Aalto Collection](https://iittala.com/collections/alvar-aalto-collection?ref=unknowndivide.com) includes several heights. Iittala's collection page lists vases at 120, 160, 201 and 251 millimeters, along with colors beyond clear such as opal, salmon pink, dark grey, Finnish sand and copper. The 160 millimeter clear vase is the classic starting point. The [251 millimeter version](https://iittala.com/products/alvar-aalto-collection-vase-251mm-clear?ref=unknowndivide.com) is the tall one, which Iittala suggests for long-stemmed flowers. The collection has also grown beyond vases. Iittala says it now includes pieces inspired by Aalto and created by Pentagon Design, such as steel bowls, wooden platters and tealight candleholders. If you want the wave shape without the glass, those are an easy way in, but the vase is still the one to own first. Care is simple: Iittala says the vase is hand wash only. ## If you like this The Aalto vase is a perfect introduction to the ideas in our [Scandinavian design explainer](https://www.unknowndivide.com/scandinavian-design-explained/) and our [mid-century modern guide](https://www.unknowndivide.com/mid-century-modern-explained/). For another everyday object by a big-name designer, see the [Alessi 9093 kettle by Michael Graves](https://www.unknowndivide.com/alessi-9093-kettle-michael-graves/), and for furniture that has stayed in production for decades, read about [USM Haller](https://www.unknowndivide.com/usm-haller-explained/). ## Where to buy Iittala sells the full Alvar Aalto Collection through its own store, and the vases are also sold through other retailers. **Shop the Iittala Aalto vase** [Aalto vase 160 mm clear at Iittala](https://iittala.com/products/alvar-aalto-collection-vase-160mm-clear?ref=unknowndivide.com) [Iittala Alvar Aalto 160 mm clear vase](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000C8THW?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [Iittala Alvar Aalto 251 mm clear vase](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000C8TKC?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) More objects and design stories live in our [design and art hub](https://www.unknowndivide.com/design-and-art/).