Rare Helena Tynell Engraved Cat Dish Model 6638 for Riihimäen Lasi Oy, 1950s

A beautiful and rare Helena Tynell engraved cat dish. A perfect gift for glass collectors or even just cat lovers. The dish has been designed by Helena Tynell in the 1950s and this seem to be an early version with a bit of different engraving from the 1957 catalouge model. The engravings for her pieces were very demanding and were mostly done by master engraver Theodor Käppi.

Helena Tynell (1918-2016), Paavo Tynell´s wife was a notable Finnish glass designer who has been described as a pioneer of Finnish art glass. She started her career for the Arabia factory, a leading Finnish housewares and ceramics manufacturer. At the same time she worked for Taito, a design firm part owned by her future husband Paavo Tynell.

The piece is signed Helena Tynell and Riihimäen Lasi Oy. It has a few scratches, but that is expected on these rare dish items that are over 60+ years.

In 1946, having decided to focus exclusively on glass, she left Arabia to join Riihimäki Glass, where she stayed for most of her career and created many of her most notable designs.

Tynell`s works can be found in many museoms, including the Design Museom Helsinki, the National museum in Stockholm, and the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY, USA.