[balt]

The vase, as Richard points out, is a design classic, designed by the finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The name of the design is "Ittaly" according to my sources anyway. One of the few ones that got away (i.e. still missing in my home).

Thanks for the comments on the ashtray scene. I modelled it after an actual ashtray I have from the Victoria Jungfrau Hotel in Switzerland. Helps with the texturing... it's an old meets new sort of theme. And yes, of course smoking is bad for you... but I'm not going to put one of those lung cancer pictures on that classic ashtray, haha!

Cheers

- Balt

[Fille]

The name of the vase is "Savoy." The name of the manufacturer is "Iittala." See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aalto_Vase

Philip

[balt]

aah! thanks for clarifying this! So Ittaly must be another manufacturer. It's like furniture, you want the good quality Corbusier furniture, buy Cassina.

[Fille]

Hmmm... No, I don't think so. I guess somebody just misspelled "Iittala" (which is, by the way, also the name of the village, where the factory is - and not so far away from here)

http://www.iittala.fi/web/Iittalaweb.nsf/en/home

Philip

[balt]

That's odd. I came across the vase in a local department store (David Jones in Sydney, Richard would know...) and they sell the Aalto vase under the name/brand Ittaly.

Thanks for clarifying this however (again). Good to know!

Cheers

- Balt

[Richard]

I think like of lot of mid century classics it may well be outside of copyright restrictions now so maybe a ton of knockoff's around!