Tamara Aladin 'Star' Jar

A rare 'Star' jar by Tamara Aladin, 1963, Riihimäen Lasi Oy, Finland.

Tamara Aladin's early works represent a truly special facet of her design portfolio. Containing the signature geometry & bold shapes for which she is well-known, Aladin's early designs (1960-64) also display an understated elegance when compared to the audacious designs of the late 1960's. These later works perfectly captured the mood of the time, were sold in vast quantities, and would cement Tamara Aladin's legacy in the history of Finnish glass. Her early pieces such as this jar, however, represent an unexplored path for many collectors of Aladin's work; these designs are special not only for their finesse, but also for their scarcity. 

This jar belongs to the 'Star' series, one of just a few table services designed by Tamara Aladin. The name 'Star' is in reference to the millions of metallic specs contained within the glass; an effect created by adding silicon carbide to the molten glass. The result is a metallic, iridescent material which is both elegant and unconventional.

The wonderful shape of this jar demonstrates Aladin's signature geometric style, being formed from a cylinder, dome, and sphere. The distinctive ball-shaped handle hovers over the jar on a thin glass stalk. The name, 'Star', and the objects form, are entirely appropriate for the 'Space Age' from which it comes. The speckled glass evokes a galaxy, whilst the handle is reminiscent of an antennae. Despite the objects unconventional form, the jar highly practical, and would make a perfect container for sweets. 

Despite their expertise, the 'glittery' glass used for the 'Star' series caused great difficulty for the glassblowers; to produce consistent pieces for the range was very challenging. For this reason, the series was produced in small quantities for only two years.