Pertti Santalahti for Humppila, Finland
A striking sculptural bowl by Finnish glass designer Pertti Santalahti, formed in layered clear and amber-toned glass that rises like fractured ice from a molten base. The surface shifts from transparent to smoky honey, catching and refracting light in a way that feels both geological and quietly dramatic.
This piece belongs to the experimental era of Finnish studio glass in the 1970s and early 80s, when designers pushed beyond clean modernism into more organic, expressive forms. Santalahti was known for this exact language, glass that feels pulled from nature rather than drawn on paper, with asymmetrical, ice-like structures that seem to grow upward rather than sit still.
Made at Humppila Glassworks in Finland, each bowl was hand-formed while the glass was molten, meaning no two are ever identical. The thickness, the internal fractures, the way colour pools at the base, these are the fingerprints of the maker.
This is not decorative filler. It is a sculptural object that anchors a space.
Perfect on a plinth, a console, or a dining table where it can be appreciated as an art piece rather than used as a vessel.
Designer
Pertti Santalahti (b. 1941)
Origin
Humppila Glassworks, Finland
Era
1970s–1980s
Material
Handblown art glass in clear and amber tones
Condition
Excellent vintage condition. No chips or cracks. Light age-appropriate character only.
