Four wavy-edged, translucent glass vases in pastel yellow, pale pink, light gray, and iridescent blue are lined up against a white background.
From left: Aalto 90 Amsterdam; Copenhagen; New York; Berlin.

September 10, 2026

Words: Lisa Di Venuta

Alvar Aalto’s Savoy Vase Goes Global at 90

In 1936, Alvar Aalto designed one of Finland’s most recognizable decorative objects: the wavy Savoy vase. Iittala fetes the design’s 90th year with the limited-edition iridescent Aalto 90 City collection, which reinterprets the mouth-blown glass vessel through the lenses of six global capitals. Much like their namesake metropolises, each carries distinct architectural flair. Copenhagen’s pink-brown glass is reminiscent of coppery waterfront rooftops, while Helsinki’s light-gray glass conveys Nordic minimalism. Berlin pulsates in ultramarine, Amsterdam flaunts dichroic dark gray, Tokyo charms in soft lilac tones evoking neon-lit cherry blossoms, and New York employs translucency to mirror soaring skyscrapers. We like to think this jet-setting collection honors Aalto’s canon, which celebrated fun, freedom, and humanist design principles above all else. iittala.com

OBJECTS of design 90 years: Iittala

  • Older man in a suit holds a pen near his face, looking thoughtful with a serious expression.
    Alvar Aalto.
  • Four wavy-edged, translucent glass vases in pastel yellow, pale pink, light gray, and iridescent blue are lined up against a white background.
    From left: Aalto 90 Amsterdam; Copenhagen; New York; Berlin.
  • A yellow box with black abstract line art and text, featuring “Iittala” on top and “Aalto Vase 90” on the side, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Aalto Vase.
  • A close-up of a wavy-edged, iridescent glass vase with a smooth, reflective surface on a white background.
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