Kaarna Punch Glasses, Set of 3 | Pentti Sarpaneva

Vintage set of 3 Kaarna brutalist punch glasses designed by Finnish jeweller and designer Pentti Sarpaneva. Kaarna means “tree bark” in Finnish, a direct reference to the rugged bronze structure surrounding the base of each glass.

The warm amber glass shifts from pale honey to deeper golden brown depending on the light. Against it, the dark bronze bases give the glasses a heavier, almost sculptural character.

Kaarna Series

Nature was a recurring source for Pentti Sarpaneva, especially the textures of bark, stone and weathered surfaces. His background in jewellery is present in Kaarna: glass and bronze are treated as complementary materials, with the bronze functioning almost like a setting around the glass.

Around 1969 Sarpaneva explored this combination of glass and metal in Kaarna, Kelo and related designs, extending ideas familiar from jewellery into tableware and interior objects.

The bronze decoration was produced by the Finnish jewellery company Turun Hopea.

Two glasses are signed P.S., for Pentti Sarpaneva. One bronze shield carries the inscription KY, other - LH. The third one glass is without bronze decoration. 

Details

Designer: Pentti Sarpaneva
Series: Kaarna
Country: Finland
Glass: Warm amber
Material: Glass and bronze
Bronze work: Turun Hopea
Set: 3 glasses
Signature: P.S., LH

Height: 6.5 cm
Diameter: 7 cm

Condition

Very good vintage condition with almost no traces of use.