Established in 2006
Item No. ：KFGL1942
Designer：Kaj Franck
Maker：Nuutajärvi
Size ：H:74mm φ:73mm 80ml
The “2744” tumbler series, designed by Kaj Franck in 1953, was produced from 1953 to 1967.
Franck began designing ceramics at Arabia in 1946 and glassware at Nuutajärvi in 1950. Amid the material shortages and changing lifestyles of the postwar period, he placed greater emphasis on functionality than decoration, focusing on practical objects for everyday life.
In 1953, alongside the mold-blown “2744” series, Franck also introduced the BA model at Arabia, which would later become the core of the KILTA series, and the pressed-glass “5023” tumbler series at Nuutajärvi. Across different materials—ceramics and glass—and different methods of production—mold-blowing and pressing—1953 marked the full emergence of the geometric forms and emphasis on functionality that would come to define Franck’s product design. It was an important turning point that helped shape a major direction in design throughout the 1950s.
In addition to the standard thin-bottom version, the “2744” was also produced in a “Thick Bottom” version, distinguished by the stability and sense of weight created by its substantial base.
Based on the Nuutajärvi label, this example is believed to have been produced between 1964 and 1967.
* Probably unused and in very good condition.
Kaj Franck was one of the leading figures of 20th-century Finnish modern design. He studied furniture design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki under Arttu Brummer, and during his studies visited the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition, where he encountered the emerging ideals of functionalism. After graduating in 1932, he worked across a wide range of fields, including furniture, interiors, textiles, and toys. In 1934, he briefly worked as a draughtsman at Riihimäki Glassworks. His work was disrupted during the Second World War, but this period played a role in shaping the socially conscious approach that would later define his work.
In 1945, Franck was invited by Kurt Ekholm, then art director of Arabia, to join the company, where he was tasked with redefining tableware for postwar everyday life. At that time, Ekholm appointed, for the first time at Arabia, a designer dedicated specifically to utility ware, and Franck became the first to take on this role. As he had no formal training in ceramics, he was regarded as someone capable of approaching tableware from a fresh perspective, unbound by established conventions. In 1946, following success in a design competition organized by Karhula-Iittala, he began working as a glass designer at Iittala. In 1950, when Nuutajärvi became part of the same Wärtsilä group as Arabia, he moved there, where he began designing glassware based on the same principles he had pursued at Arabia, later serving as artistic director.
Often described as the “conscience of Finnish design,” Franck’s philosophy was rooted in the ideas of “design for the people” and the social responsibility of the designer. His work is characterized by simple geometric forms and the use of color without ornamentation, resulting in timeless objects intended for long-term use. For Franck, beauty meant being “necessary, functional, justified and right.”
Among his most iconic works are the KILTA series (now known as TEEMA) for Arabia and the 5027 tumbler series (later marketed as KARTIO) for Nuutajärvi, both designed in the 1950s and still in production by Iittala today. KILTA in particular introduced a radically new approach: instead of fixed dinner services, it allowed users to select and combine individual pieces according to their needs, redefining the concept of tableware and setting the direction for modern tableware design.
At the same time, Franck also produced numerous unique glass works at Nuutajärvi, especially from the 1970s onward, exploring more experimental and craft-oriented approaches. These works reveal another, more artistic dimension of his practice.
From 1960, Franck was also active as an educator at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki, exerting a lasting influence on Finnish design education. His legacy continues today, reflected in the Kaj Franck Design Prize established in his name. His many honors include an Honorary Award at the Milan Triennale in 1954, the Lunning Prize in 1955, the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale in 1957, and the Compasso d’Oro in the same year.
ELEPHANT offers gift wrapping using our original "HOW TO WRAP_" wrapping paper. Please use this service for gifts to friends, acquaintances, and family.
Click here for gift wrapping
For more details on shipping, please refer to this page.
This is a vintage / pre-owned item. We take great care in our sourcing and select only pieces in good condition.
Any notable damage or condition issues, such as visible chips, cracks, stains, or repairs, are described in the listing. However, minor signs of age and use, as well as small imperfections, may not be noted individually. Please also note that these items were made in a period when manufacturing standards were not as precise as they are today.
If you have any questions or would like more detail about the condition, please contact us before placing your order.
When multiple items of the same product are in similar condition, we may show only one set of product images.
Please note that colors may appear differently depending on your monitor settings, and the actual item may vary slightly in tone.
