Kaj Franck KF 245 "Hyrrä" Vase

A hooped "Hyrrä" vase, designed by Kaj Franck in 1956 for Nuutajärvi Notsjö, Finland.

Reminiscent of an hourglass, the vessel reflects Franck's longstanding interest in simple geometry and carefully balanced proportions. Both sculptural and functional, its boldly undulating silhouette is characteristic of his precise approach to form.

The model's name, "Hyrrä", translates into English as "Spinning Top", referring to the turn-mould technique used in its production, whereby the molten glass gather is rotated within the mould. This process allowed glassmakers to create exaggerated yet controlled forms and became a distinctive feature of mid-20th-century Finnish glass.

Dating from 1956, Franck's "Hyrrä" is an early example of the technique within Finnish decorative glass, predating the colourful, Pop Art-inspired turn-moulded vases more widely associated with Riihimäen Lasi Oy during the 1960s.