Sculptural first, useful second - which is precisely the point
This Finnish ice glass dish is one of those pieces that changes depending on where you stand. Deep icicle spines radiate out from a smooth polished well, each ray finishing at a slightly different length so the rim reads as broken ice rather than a tidy circle. The upper face is rough, frosted and irregular; turn it over and the underside is a different world entirely, finer close-set ribbing that carries light straight down through the base. In flat light it almost disappears. When the sun reaches it, it throws bright flecks across whatever surface it's sitting on.
▫️ Maker - Humppila Glass, Finland, unmarked as most of the range was paper-labelled only
▫️ Designer - Tauno Wirkkala, brother of Tapio Wirkkala
▫️ Series and model - Kalevala series, Revontulet (Northern Lights), produced 1972 to 1987
▫️ Design - radiating icicle spines around a smooth polished central well, textured upper face and finely ribbed underside
▫️ Material - mould-cast glass, hand-finished rather than simply machine-pressed
▫️ Style - Scandinavian Modern with a brutalist edge, 1970s to 80s
▫️ Everyday scale - at 18.5 cm this is the usable size rather than the oversized centrepiece
📏 Width: 18.5 cm (7.3 in)
📏 Height: 5.2 cm (2 in)
📏 Central well: 8.5 cm (3.3 in)
💧 Capacity: approx. 400 ml (13.5 fl oz) to the rim, approx. 250 ml (8.5 fl oz) usable in the well
Humppila Glass began in 1952, founded by three Helander brothers who had all worked as glassblowers at Nuutajärvi, operating out of a converted barn. The company went bankrupt in 1970 and was bought by businessman Rolf Alander, reopening in a purpose-built factory in 1971. Tauno Wirkkala's Kalevala series arrived the following year and became the design that defined the relaunch - it carried Humppila through its strongest decade. Revontulet is one of six models in the range, alongside Ulpukka, Prisma, Tokka, Aurinko and Mesiurut, all in production until 1987.
The shallow profile means it reads as a design object first and a vessel second, which is exactly how these were used in Finnish homes. It works as a fruit dish, a catch-all for keys and coins by the front door, a soap dish on a wide bathroom shelf, or simply as a sculptural note on a mantel where light can find it. Pair it with warm timber, brushed brass, or other clear and smoky glass for a considered mid-century mix.
Condition & Packaging
▫️ Very good vintage condition
▫️ No chips or cracks, light surface marks to the polished well consistent with age and use
▫️ No maker's mark present - normal for this range, which was paper-labelled, and the moulded texture is identification enough
▫️ Carefully packaged with sustainable materials for a safe arrival
▫️ Combined shipping available - significant overages refunded at dispatch
📩 Need more photos or have a question? We're always happy to help - send us a message any time.
The Wirkkala You Can Actually Afford
Tauno Wirkkala was the brother of Tapio Wirkkala, the designer behind Iittala's Kantarelli vase and the Finlandia bottle. That's a claim sellers make constantly, and unusually it's documented. If you already own Iittala and want the same Finnish ice vocabulary without the name premium, this is the direction to look. Clear is the least-collected colourway in the range, which is precisely why it's the one that still behaves like ice instead of just resembling it.
Sculptural first, useful second - which is precisely the point
This Finnish ice glass dish is one of those pieces that changes depending on where you stand. Deep icicle spines radiate out from a smooth polished well, each ray finishing at a slightly different length so the rim reads as broken ice rather than a tidy circle. The upper face is rough, frosted and irregular; turn it over and the underside is a different world entirely, finer close-set ribbing that carries light straight down through the base. In flat light it almost disappears. When the sun reaches it, it throws bright flecks across whatever surface it's sitting on.
▫️ Maker - Humppila Glass, Finland, unmarked as most of the range was paper-labelled only
▫️ Designer - Tauno Wirkkala, brother of Tapio Wirkkala
▫️ Series and model - Kalevala series, Revontulet (Northern Lights), produced 1972 to 1987
▫️ Design - radiating icicle spines around a smooth polished central well, textured upper face and finely ribbed underside
▫️ Material - mould-cast glass, hand-finished rather than simply machine-pressed
▫️ Style - Scandinavian Modern with a brutalist edge, 1970s to 80s
▫️ Everyday scale - at 18.5 cm this is the usable size rather than the oversized centrepiece
📏 Width: 18.5 cm (7.3 in)
📏 Height: 5.2 cm (2 in)
📏 Central well: 8.5 cm (3.3 in)
💧 Capacity: approx. 400 ml (13.5 fl oz) to the rim, approx. 250 ml (8.5 fl oz) usable in the well
Humppila Glass began in 1952, founded by three Helander brothers who had all worked as glassblowers at Nuutajärvi, operating out of a converted barn. The company went bankrupt in 1970 and was bought by businessman Rolf Alander, reopening in a purpose-built factory in 1971. Tauno Wirkkala's Kalevala series arrived the following year and became the design that defined the relaunch - it carried Humppila through its strongest decade. Revontulet is one of six models in the range, alongside Ulpukka, Prisma, Tokka, Aurinko and Mesiurut, all in production until 1987.
The shallow profile means it reads as a design object first and a vessel second, which is exactly how these were used in Finnish homes. It works as a fruit dish, a catch-all for keys and coins by the front door, a soap dish on a wide bathroom shelf, or simply as a sculptural note on a mantel where light can find it. Pair it with warm timber, brushed brass, or other clear and smoky glass for a considered mid-century mix.
Condition & Packaging
▫️ Very good vintage condition
▫️ No chips or cracks, light surface marks to the polished well consistent with age and use
▫️ No maker's mark present - normal for this range, which was paper-labelled, and the moulded texture is identification enough
▫️ Carefully packaged with sustainable materials for a safe arrival
▫️ Combined shipping available - significant overages refunded at dispatch
📩 Need more photos or have a question? We're always happy to help - send us a message any time.
The Wirkkala You Can Actually Afford
Tauno Wirkkala was the brother of Tapio Wirkkala, the designer behind Iittala's Kantarelli vase and the Finlandia bottle. That's a claim sellers make constantly, and unusually it's documented. If you already own Iittala and want the same Finnish ice vocabulary without the name premium, this is the direction to look. Clear is the least-collected colourway in the range, which is precisely why it's the one that still behaves like ice instead of just resembling it.
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