Nicholas Savard

A Pair of Sconces by Helena Tynell

A pair of moulded glass and metal sconces by Finnish designer Helena Tynell.

 7" H x 9" W x 4" D.

Tynell is best known for practical designs, purposefully created for large-scale manufacturing and everyday use. However, she herself was more interested in glass sculpture, experimenting with abstract forms, and other artistic pursuits, using both casting and blowing as well as other techniques.^[2][4]

One of her best-known designs is a vase called Aurinkopullo ('Sun Bottle'), which was produced in the 1960s and 70s in at least 19 different colours and several sizes. In 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of Tynell's birth, a limited run of 300 pieces was produced.

Tynell's 20th anniversary retrospective exhibition at the Strindbergin taidesalonki ('Strindberg Art Salon') in Helsinki was the first time glass was exhibited in a fine arts gallery in Finland, signifying a certain “coming of age” of Finnish glass art.^[2]

She exhibited extensively in Finland and internationally.^[4][3] Her works are included in the permanent collections of the Design Museum, Helsinki, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, and the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY, USA