Clear Glass Fluted Vase - Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Mid-20th Century

A Rosenthal glass vase by Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, model 470-20, made in Germany in the mid-20th century. The clear glass body rises from a heavy square base into a wide flared rim, with vertical fluting that catches the light and gives the form a calm, Nordic modernist character.

• Dimensions: H 20 cm, W 17 cm, D 14.5 cm
  
• Material: Clear glass
  
• Brand: Rosenthal
  
• Designer: Tapio Wirkkala
  
• Color: Transparent clear
  
• Condition: Very good to excellent vintage condition: No chips, cracks or restorations observed. Minor signs of age consistent with careful handling.
  
• Era: Mid-20th century
  
• Origin: Germany
  
• Remarks: Model 470-20.  

This vase works best where light can pass through the clear glass — on a windowside console, dining table, open shelf or bedside chest. It can hold a small loose arrangement, but it is especially good with one or two tall stems, as the flared top and vertical glass lines already give it enough movement.

Tapio Wirkkala (1915–1985) was one of the most important Finnish designers and sculptors of the 20th century and a major figure of post-war Nordic design. His work for Rosenthal – including the iconic crumpled paper bag vases and the geometric Polygon tableware for the Studio Line – uniquely combined Scandinavian minimalism with German porcelain craftsmanship and is still considered a milestone in the Rosenthal portfolio. Beyond Rosenthal, Wirkkala’s multidisciplinary designs in glass, wood, metal and porcelain for Iittala and others, defined Nordic design with their minimalist, functional yet highly expressive character and are now widely recognized as modern design classics in museum collections worldwide.

Rosenthal, founded in 1879, is best known for its major role in 20th-century German porcelain, but under Philip Rosenthal the company evolved into a much broader design house. With the launch of Rosenthal studio-line in 1961, Rosenthal positioned itself at the forefront of contemporary design and, alongside its famous porcelain and ceramic lines, introduced glass and cutlery as part of a unified modern program. This expansion was not secondary, but central to the brand’s identity, with German glass production anchored by the Amberg glassworks from 1970 onward. Rosenthal’s glass lines from this period share the same design-driven spirit as its porcelain: refined, experimental, and closely tied to leading artists and designers of the time.