Amber and clear glass "Musselglas" art-object, model GN 12 - Nuutajärvi-Notsjö, Finland 1951 1951

Gunnel Nyman

Glass
19 cm, ø 13 cm
ConditionVery good
€ 650

Van Kerkhoff Art

• About the artwork
  A spike-mould blown, clear and amber coloured, cased glass Art-object, model GN 12. Designed by Gunnel Nyman in 1947 and executed by the craftsmen of the Nuutajärvi-Notsjö Glassworks in 1951.
  
  Model GN 12 was made between 1949 and 1953 in three different colours: clear glass, amber and lilac. It's interesting to note that the two coloured ones were more expensive than the clear glass specimen and still are more sought after by collectors.
  
  This Art-object is acid-signed underneath the base: G. Nyman - Nuutajärvi-Notsjö - 51 (1951). The signature has faded slightly but is still perfectly readable.
  
  Marked
  Acid-signed underneath the base: G. Nyman Nuutajärvi-Notsjö 51 (1951).
  
  Execution
  Nuutajärvi-Notsjö glassworks, Finland 1951
  
  Condition
  This art-object is in good vintage condition, some minor scratches and wear consistent with age and use. No cracks or chips.
  
  Literature
  Mel Bryars - The Design Encyclopedia p. 547
  Marianne Aav (ed.) - Iittala - 125 years of Finnish Glass p. 94
  Michael Wynne - Ellis (trans.) - Finnish Glass: Glass manufacturers'brochures from the 1950's P. 40, 48, 51
  
  Dimensions
  H. 19.5 cm
  Diam. 13 cm
  Weight 1028 grams
  
  
  About Gunnel Nyman
  Gunnel Nyman (Turku 1909 – 1948) was a Finnish designer most known for her modern art-glass design.
  
  She was educated at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki under Arttu Brummer. During her short but brilliant carreer - she died while still in her thirties - she designed glassobjects for all the major Finnish glassworks. First at Riihimäki from 1932 until 1947. Followed by Karhula from 1935 to 1937, Nuutajärvi-Notsjö from 1946-1948 and finally Iittala from 1946-1947. Besides glass-objects she also designed furniture and light fixtures for Taito in the late 1930's.
  
  Her style was characterised by a strong sense of form and a subtle articulation of surface and mass. Ada Polak, a famous French glass-historian wrote about Nymans creations: "She had an intense feeling for the soft pliability of the material.. while the effect of inlaid colours and bubbles were exploited in a series of graceful vases" and "Whetever technique she employed, she gave to all her designs a subtle touch of true poetry".
  
  Gunnel Nyman was awarded citations and medals in the 1933 and 1936 Riihimäki glass competition. A gold medal and silver medal at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Technique dans la Vie Moderne in Paris. And a posthumus gold medal at the 1951 Triennale di Milano.
  
  Her work can be seen in museums all over the world like The British Museum, MoMa and Designmuseo Helsinki.
• About the artist

  Gunnel Nyman (September 19, 1909 – October 7, 1948) was a Finnish glass and metal artist, and one of the founders of modern Finnish glass design. She was also a proponent of early mass-produced glassware. Nyman's glassware is exhibited in museums internationally.

  Born Gunnel Anita Gustafsson in Turku in 1909, she moved to Helsinki with her family in 1922. She married Gunnar Nyman in 1936.

  Nyman studied furniture design at the Taideteollinen Korkeakoulu (Central School of the Industrial Arts) in Helsinki, under Arttu Brummer and worked initially in the functionalist style.

  Trained as a furniture designer, Nyman also created metalwork for ecclesiastical use as well as lighting, most notably for Helsinki's Swedish Theater, which she designed in collaboration with the Oy Taito AB metalsmiths.

  During the post-war era she transitioned to glassware and collaborated or worked on commission with various glassworks including Riihimäki Karhula-Iittala and Nuutajärvi.

  Her work features organic lines and focuses on the characteristics of glass itself.

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