Heikki Orvola “Green Depth” Art Glass Vase, Nuutajärvi

Overview
This expressive vintage art glass vase was designed by Heikki Orvola in the 1970s and produced at the Arabia Wärtsilä glassworks in Nuutajärvi (Notsjö), Finland. Surface texture and light interaction are created through the glass itself, defining the character of the piece. This vase was produced in a limited series, and each example differs due to the hand-formed glass process.

Glass Technique
The vase is made in a complex hot-glass technique combining thick clear glass with internal relief decoration. The inner surface is worked with dense, uneven bubble-like textures and shallow relief patterns formed during blowing. The elements are embedded within the glass wall, creating depth and optical movement across the surface.The technique results in subtle distortion and layered transparency, typical of experimental Finnish studio production of the period.

Color
The color palette moves from light, translucent green to deeper forest green tones toward the base. Fine bubbles and internal textures break the color field into irregular gradations, with darker inclusions appearing suspended inside the glass. Depending on light, the surface shifts between cool mint, moss green, and clear crystalline areas.

Form
The vase has a gently flaring cylindrical form with a thick, slightly outward-turned rim and a solid, weighted base. 

Heikki Orvola is one of the key figures of Finnish postwar glass design, known for combining industrial production with experimental surface techniques. This vase was produced at Nuutajärvi glassworks, a site associated with many important developments in Finnish art glass.
The vase is signed: Heikki Orvola Nuutajärvi Notsjö.

Measurements
Height: 14.5 cm

Condition
Very good vintage condition. No cracks or repairs. Minor surface traces consistent with age and careful use.