This is a discontinued cup and saucer from Kastehelmi, Finland's leading glassware brand. Kastehelmi, which means "dew" or "drop" in Finnish, was designed in 1964 by Oiva Toikka, the king of glass artists. The distinctive feature of this vintage piece is the plump, three-dimensional surface of the beads, each one of which is finely detailed. It has the beauty of a pearl.
The vintage pieces have large beads, and when held up to the light, they have depth of beauty. The manufacturer was originally Nuutajärvi, the oldest glass factory in Finland, which later became a joint venture with ARABIA. The current Kastehelmi series reproductions are manufactured under the Iittala umbrella.
This is an old glass piece. It has a unique vintage transparency and is no longer available.
■Details Manufacturer: Nuutajarvi・ARABIA
Designer: Oiva Toikka Series: Kastehelmi Year: 1964-1988 Country of origin: Finland Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
Never been used and the saucer has the original sticker (Nutajärvi or ARABIA) are also deadstock items. They are among the best condition vintage pieces available on the market. We have multiple items in stock. All items in stock are in perfect condition, just like the photos.
■Size
Cup diameter 7cm, height 5cm, saucer diameter 8.5cm
Oiva Toikka
Oiva Toikka ( 1931-2019)
One of Finland's great glass designers. His imaginative, tasteful and bold glass art distances himself from the mainstream of Scandinavian design. Toikka's artistic activities extend beyond glass to include stage production, fashion design, and plastic interior design. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Kai Frank Design Award and the Prince Eugene Medal, and was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Art by Finland in 1993. The series ``Bird by Toikka'' designed for Iittala is a combination of Toikka's expertise in the properties of glass and the artist's imagination. The unique and colorful birds are all handmade by glass artisans and attract collectors from all over the world.