This is a vintage cake plate from Kastehelmi, a Finnish glassware classic. The blue color is still being reproduced today under the name Sea Blue, but there is a clear difference in the color tone; the vintage version has a unique vividness and depth to the blue.
The series name, Kastehelmi, means "dew" or "dewdrop" in Finnish. Kastehelmi was designed in 1964 by Oiva Toikka, who is considered the "king" of glass artists.
The distinctive feature of vintage plates is the plump, three-dimensional surface, with each individual grain being extremely fine. They are as beautiful as pearls. Kastehelmi's reproductions have a flat, small, and textured glass design, lacking the depth of their beauty when held up to the light. This 14cm plate has never been reproduced, making it only available as a vintage item.
Originally produced by Nuutajärvi, Finland's oldest glass factory, it later became part of the Arabia glass factory, and the current reproductions are now produced under the Iittala umbrella. This piece is an ancient work, and the unique blue and transparency of vintage pieces is now hard to find.
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: Nuutajarvi・ARABIA
Designer: Oiva Toikka Series: Kastehelmi Year: 1964-1988 Country of Origin: Finland Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
This is a deadstock item that has never been used and is in excellent condition. It is one of the best vintage Kastehelmi items available on the market.
■Size
Diameter 14cm Height 2cm
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.
