Finnish designer Helena Tynell found her calling in glass—her works are now highly popular collector's items

After studying at the University of Arts and Design in Helsinki, Helena Tynell (née Turpeinen) was hired in 1943 by the lighting manufacturer Taito. Soon, her personal life also took a remarkable turn: Helena married the head of the company, lighting designer Paavo Tynell.

Tynell was first introduced to working with glass when she got to watch Taito’s glass components being produced for their lighting fixtures in a small, scorching-hot glass studio. In fact, it was glass items that would ultimately define her career.

In 1946, Tynell moved on to become a designer at Riihimäen Lasi, a Finnish glass company, and worked there for 30 years. Her most recognized pieces are her casually relaxed vases Aitanlukko (“Granary Lock”) from 1968, Pala (“Piece”) from 1964, and Aurinkopullo (“Sun Bottle”) from 1962. These colorful vases were popular gift items that people could default to—and today, they are extremely sought-after collectibles. Beside mass-produced pieces, she also created unique glass items.

The 1960s proved to be a highly productive period for Helena Tynell. Among her other notable works from that decade are the popular Aitanlukko (1968) and Emma (1968).

her design work was suddenly paused in 1976 when Riihimäen Lasi discontinued the production of both functional and art glass. Fortunately, Tynell had already forged a collaboration with a German glass lighting manufacturer. She continued her career in Germany for about ten years, designing lighting for Bega-Limburg.

Helena Tynell passed away at age 97 on January 18, 2016.

An exhibition called Pullo poikineen at the Stockmann department store in Helsinki showcased Tynell’s bottles in 1974. The angular, massive glass vase is Paalutalo (“Stilt House”) from 1966.