Gunnel Nyman – Purple and clear glass art-object, model GN25 – Nuutajärvi-Notsjö, Finland ca 1950

A spike-mould blown, clear and purple coloured, cased glass Art-object, model GN 25. Designed by Gunnel Nyman in 1949 and executed by the craftsmen of the Nuutajärvi-Notsjö Glassworks in the 1950’s.

Model GN 25 was made between 1949 and 1958 in three different colours: clear glass, amber and lilac in the size range of 26,5 to 32 cm. 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 particular example is 27 cm tall and either unsigned or acid-signed (due to the scratching on the base it is really hard to tell as often the acid markings fade).

About Gunnel Nyman

Gunnel Nyman (Turku 1909 – 1948) was one of the most significant pioneers of modern Finnish glass design, despite a remarkably short career.

Born in Turku, Finland, she studied furniture design at the Central School of Industrial Arts in Helsinki between 1928 and 1932. Her early work followed a functionalist approach, and she initially designed furniture, lighting, and metalwork before turning fully to glass in the 1930s and 1940s.

Nyman’s transition into glass design marked the beginning of her most influential period. She collaborated with several major Finnish glassworks, including Riihimäki and Iittala, but her final years at Nuutajärvi Glassworks (1946–1948) were particularly important. During this brief yet intense period, she produced more than sixty designs, ranging from functional tableware to sculptural art glass. Her work at Nuutajärvi is often regarded as the culmination of her artistic vision.

At Nuutajärvi, Nyman explored the expressive potential of glass as a material. She was especially interested in the effects of light, refraction, and transparency. Her designs frequently incorporated thick crystal and trapped air bubbles, creating a sense of depth and movement within the glass. These features gave her objects a sculptural quality, distinguishing them from more traditional, purely functional glassware. Works such as her vases and experimental forms demonstrate a balance between organic shapes and controlled craftsmanship, reflecting her belief that glass should reveal its own inherent properties.

Although Nyman died at the age of 39 after a long illness, her influence on postwar Finnish design was profound. She is often considered a key figure in establishing the international reputation of Finnish glass. Her work continued to be produced and exhibited after her death, and in 1951 she was posthumously awarded a gold medal at the Milan Triennial.

Today, Nyman’s work is represented in major museum collections worldwide. Notably, pieces designed for Nuutajärvi are held in institutions such as the National Gallery of Victoria, the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the British Museum. In Finland, her legacy is preserved by the Design Museum Helsinki, which also holds an extensive archive of her drawings and designs.