Heavy vintage sugar bowl by Riihimäen Lasi, made in Finland around the 1930s to 1950s. The bowl has the Starburst pattern, a pressed glass decor known from Riihimäki catalogues from the 1930s.
The piece is made of dark blue glass with a bright carnival glass lustre. Its surface shifts between silver, copper, rose, violet and green. The relief pattern is dense and sharp, with star forms, fan shapes, geometric panels and a scalloped rim.
Although compact, the bowl feels substantial in the hand. The weight, thick glass and strong surface decor give it the presence of an older Finnish pressed glass piece.
Starburst Pattern
The Starburst decor belongs to Riihimäki’s earlier pressed glass production. Its pattern is built from repeated star motifs, cut like geometric flowers, together with fan shaped panels and raised borders.
The pattern works especially well with carnival glass finishing, as the raised parts catch the metallic lustre and create a lively surface. The dark blue glass underneath makes the iridescent coating look deeper.
Carnival Glass Technique
Carnival glass is pressed glass with an iridescent metallic surface treatment. After the glass is formed, a metallic coating is applied while the piece is still hot. This creates the shifting lustre seen on the surface.
On this bowl, the outside has a silvery metallic glow with copper and pink reflections. Inside, the colour turns warmer, with amber, rose, green and violet tones visible in the base.
Design and Use
This Riihimäen Lasi bowl can be used as a sugar bowl, small serving bowl or decorative glass piece. It also works well as a collectable item for a Finnish glass shelf, especially among earlier pressed glass, carnival glass and Riihimäki pieces.
Details
Maker: Riihimäen Lasi
Origin: Finland
Pattern: Starburst
Period: circa 1930s to 1950s
Material: pressed glass with carnival lustre
Colour: dark blue glass with iridescent silver, copper, rose and green tones
Diameter: 10.5 cm
Height: 6 cm
Weight: approx. 400 g
Use: sugar bowl, small bowl, decorative glass
Condition
Good vintage condition with visible traces of age and use.
There are signs of life on the lustre surface, typical for older carnival glass. There is also a production related feature visible in the photos.
For Collectors
A strong piece for collectors of Riihimäen Lasi, Finnish carnival glass and early Nordic pressed glass. The Starburst pattern, dark blue base glass and vivid lustre make it especially appealing as a small but visually rich collectable.
