Saara Hopea 'Kupla' Vase

Saara Hopea uses simplicity and geometry to create timeless objects of refined beauty. Her works in glass are characterised by a purity of form, and epitomise the minimalist style of postwar Finland. Her characteristically Finnish restraint was often enriched by experimentations in colour and technique, and whilst Hopea's portfolio of glass is relatively small, her distinct expression of modernity supports her position as one of the most notable Finnish glass designers of the 20th Century.

This capsule-shaped vase is named 'Kupla' (Bubble), which refers to the bubble of turquoise glass trapped within the vase's foot. The sommerso vase was designed by Hopea in 1955, and handmade at Nuutajärvi glassworks. The object's proportions and simplistic shape are intrinsically elegant, whilst further visual interest is created by Hopea's use of colour and contrast.

Hopea spent her tenure at Nuutajärvi working closely with Kaj Franck. They were not only close colleagues, but were also close friends. They shared the same design ethos, based upon the functionality and practicality of simple shapes, and the importance of high quality manufacture and materials. Together, they completely transformed the direction of Nuutajarvi glassworks' production in the early 1950's, and influenced designers throughout Scandinavia, and later the rest of Europe, to produce new & unapologetically modern glassware for the home.