Kaj Franck Penguin Gift Boxed 'Party Set'

A complete 'Party Set', designed by Kaj Franck for Nuutajärvi Notsjö, presented in its original packaging printed with a waddle of black & white penguins.

Produced between 1955 & 1965, this set brings together a clear model 1609 pitcher with ten model 2744 'Kartio' (cone) glasses [1], two each in purple, green, red, turquoise & blue. Intended for cocktails, the multicoloured tumblers were designed to stack neatly inside one another and then inside the carafe.

The model 1609 pitcher had originally been introduced in 1953, but was subsequently refined into this straight-sided, handleless cylinder to accommodate stacked glasses, allowing an entire drinks set to occupy no more cupboard space than the carafe alone.

Today, the set may appear deceptively simple, but it is a key design from a period in which Franck was instrumental in revolutionising modern tableware. On the one hand, the design is pure rationale, but on the other, unadulterated joy. Crucially, these characteristics enhance rather than contradict one another. In many ways, this is the great success of Scandinavian Modernism; a softer, more humane interpretation of Modernism that was readily embraced around the world.

Nuutajärvi's Party-set is particularly satisfying not only as an expression of Franck's approach to utility glass, but for the origin story it represents. Franck's influence on post-war tableware has been enormous, and differently coloured "harlequin" drinking glasses would become ubiquitous, produced by glassworks across Europe and beyond. What appears so straightforward today was once strikingly new. Few objects better epitomise the optimism of mid-20th century glassware; accessible, functional & modern, but above all extraordinarily cheerful.[2]

[1] It should be noted that the name 'Kartio' did not come into use until 1970.

[2] Although multicoloured products were not invented by Nuutajärvi Notsjö the concept spread from there based on Franck's particular use and exposure at internal expositions.