Designer: Göran Hongell

Hans Göran Andreas Hongell (1902–1973) was born in Helsinki and trained as a decorative painter in the early 1920s. Alongside artist Gunnar Forsström, he ran a studio producing posters and decorative work. In 1932, Hongell made history as the first designer permanently hired by a Finnish glassworks: Karhula-Iittala, marking a new era in Finnish industrial design.

Shaping Finnish Glass

Initially, Hongell refined existing household ware, modifying shapes, proportions and ground patterns to facilitate production. His breakthrough came with sculptural pieces like the 1941 “Hongellin Hattu” and the 1936–37 pressed-glass sets Silko, Säde and Maininki, which were striking examples of his modernist vision.

The Aarne Collection

Perhaps his best-known achievement was Aarne, introduced in 1948. This line of mouth-blown stemware featured streamlined profiles and single-stage footmaking. It won the gold medal at the 1954 Milan Triennale and remained in production at Karhula and later Iittala until 1969, with a revival in 1981. Today, pieces from Aarne are held in MoMA and the Met.

Collaborative Craftsmanship

Hongell bridged design and production by regularly consulting with glassblowers: sharing sketches and experimenting with colours and textures. His approach led to innovations in glassblowing techniques and palette expansion at Karhula-Iittala.

Legacy & Influence

Remaining with Karhula-Iittala as art director until the late 1950s, Hongell’s vision defined Finnish tableware design. Works like Aarne, Silko, and Hongellin Hattu are admired for their clarity of form and functional elegance, hallmarks of mid-century Scandinavian glass.