Rara Avis

This streamlined and stylized blown-glass bird with bold green stripes is a rare bird indeed.  

This little bird was made by the Finnish design company of Iittala. Iittala was founded in 1881 as a glassworks in Iittalain, Finland by Peter Magnus Abrahamson, who brought glassblowers with him from Sweden. By the late 1800s the company came under Finnish control and hired its first in-house designer in 1903. Iittala, which would later expand into ceramic and metal creations, became known for its innovative glass designs emphasizing the beauty of form and color over ornamentation.

Under its breast, the bird is etched "O. Toikka" and "Nuutajärvi." The signature is that of Oiva Toikka (1931-2019), considered one of the masters of Finnish glass design, who created his Birds by Toikka for Iittala. Today Iittala continues his legacy, its skilled artisans crafting each Toikka bird by hand. This whimsical bird represents a whip-poor-will or willow duck (in Finnish, the bird is called pajusotka, paju being the Finnish word for willow and sotka meaning a type of duck), and was created for the Birds of Passage collection from 1991 through 1997. Nuutajärvi is the Finnish city where the Iittala glassworks are located.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

5258-12089

Birds of a Feather. . .

. . flock together, except in this case these beautiful birds have feathers of glowing glass or crystal.  The first of this fascinating flock are from France, made by the Sabino Crystal Company.  The company was founded by Marius Sabino, who was born in Italy in 1878, but came to France as a child.  He studied at the L'Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs and the Beaux Arts de Paris, and following WWI, founded a factory manufacturing light fixtures.  It was there that Sabino developed his signature opalescent glass with blue and golden tones, depending on the light.  He expanded his production to include art deco-inspired figurines and sculptures.  Sabino died in 1961, but the company continues to produce opaline glass using his designs.  

Some of these charming chickadees carry their original Sabino labels, as well as the company's engraved signature.

Also flying in from France are these frosted delicate doves by Lalique.

This magnificent Murano glass seagull swooping over the curling crest of a wave immigrated from Italy.  Of glimmering glass, this hand-blown bird carries the Murano label and is signed and dated by the artist.

This stylized bird of brilliant blue glass was designed by artist Oiva Toikka and hand made by the Finnish glassware company iittala.  It is the epitome of the simple and clean lines of Finnish design.

Come by Next-to-New to visit these birds before they fly off our shelves to their new homes!