Nanny Still 'Neptuna' Jar Duo

A pair of 'Neptuna' shouldered vases, designed by Nanny Still in 1964 for Riihimäen Lasi Oy, Finland. 

Nanny Still’s body of work displays a rich and varied character, owing to her experimental and inquisitive approach to glassblowing techniques. These methods give much of her work an intricate complexity, and impart a unique voice in the context of postwar Finnish glass; at a time when decorative elements, beyond colour, were minimised in the name of modernity, Still would often embrace traditional old-world techniques to support her own thoroughly modern expression.

The 'Neptuna' series exemplifies this approach through the use of an optical, or “dip”, mould - a centuries-old technique first used by the Romans, and later refined by Venetian glassmakers of the 15th century. The resulting wavy surface texture, evocative of rippling water, breathes life and movement into the glass.

Handmade in a delicate sea-green hue, the 'Neptuna' series consists of elegant forms with a remarkable suitability for contemporary interiors.

Evoking Still's characteristic use of geometry, these vases each consist of simple stacked cylinders. The shoulder is softened, and rounded, while each piece is finished with a thick rim. Working as a pair, these two vases perfectly display the optically textured surface which gives the 'Neptuna' series its name.