Gather ’round and get festive – set the holiday table with delightful Iittala dishware!

According to our friends at Iittala, festive gatherings are not about creating the perfect table setting or precisely planned schedules, let alone a meticulously curated guest list. Inspired by this philosophy, let us present seven Iittala tableware collections to create an elegantly mismatched festive spread!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is a time for coming together with loved ones: gathering around a shared table, indulging in festive treats and, above all, creating lasting memories. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party, a grand family celebration, or an annual reunion with old friends, set a perfectly imperfect holiday table with Iittala's beloved crockery collections.

Get creative and mix and match collections like Teema, Raami, Kastehelmi and Ultima Thule! This season is not about matching dishes, it's about shared moments and memories created together with your nearest and dearest.

The essence of elegance

Essence is one of those collections that transcends time – it's both timeless and in tune with the times. The wine glasses in the series have a slightly angular shape, a thin rim, and a narrow stem, elevating the table setting above the everyday. Originally designed to offer just a few different glasses, the series has expanded in recent years to include cocktail glasses, large drinking glasses, and various serving dishes. Has someone at Iittala been eavesdropping on our conversations about our dream tableware?

• Essence glasses >

Tundra’s arctic allure

In 2023, Iittala brought back Oiva Toikka's Tundra series, originally designed in the 1970s. Despite drawing inspiration from the Arctic nature and barren, permafrost-covered landscapes, the dishes are anything but: they boast a playfully whimsical aesthetic suitable for both everyday use and festive occasions. The tumblers, bowls, and plates of the Tundra series are made in Finland.

• Tundra tumblers >

Following the theme

The classic of classics, the epitome of endurance: Kaj Franck's Teema, Finnish for “theme”. It never ceases to charm us!

While Teema dishes are now considered adaptable basics for all occasions and the absolute cornerstones of table settings, the series was somewhat revolutionary in its time. Back then, Finns usually bought either an entire tableware set for, say, 12 people, or simple and anonymous everyday dishes. Franck's designs, however, landed somewhere in the middle: they were stylish, could be freely combined, and were suitable for both daily life and celebrations. Still relevant today, the versatile and wonderfully minimalist Teema is ideal for creating fun and fresh table settings by boldly combining different colors.

• Teema tableware >

Enchantment of Taika

While Iittala's style is often quite streamlined and Scandinavian, its crockery selection also caters to those who appreciate more decorative styles. Klaus Haapaniemi's captivatingly ornate Taika, also available in a seasonal red color, features gorgeous patterns inspired by fairy tales and folklore. Named after the Finnish word for “magic”, Taika’s decorative details come to life against the bright red background in a way that can only be described as – you guessed it – magical.

• Taika series >

Like melting ice

Are you one of those people who save their finest tableware only for special occasions? In many Finnish households, Ultima Thule glassware only comes out during the holidays. While the glasses are indeed perfect for a festive table, there's no need to hide them in the cupboard. Use them, we say!

Designed by the internationally acclaimed Tapio Wirkkala, Ultima Thule is made using a special glass casting technique, where molten glass takes its shape in a carved mold. Wirkkala himself was involved in developing the technique, inspired by Lapland's spring and the sun that warms the snow and ice, causing them to melt after the long, dark winter.

• Ultima Thule glassware >

Dewdrops on the table

Oiva Toikka's Kastehelmi pattern resembles overlapping strings of pearls or morning dew on plant surfaces. These sweet dewdrops originated when Toikka explored different ways to cover the seam points in pressed glass production. A couple of years ago, Iittala introduced stemmed glasses to the series, bringing a playful addition to the festive table. These could be used as wine glasses, of course, but also for serving desserts like trifles!

• Kastehelmi collection >

Frame your festivities

Designed by Jasper Morrison, Raami (Finnish for “frame”) has only been in the lineup for about five years, but it has already secured its place in many a design fan's cupboard. And no wonder, as their casual forms strike just the right balance between modern and somehow familiar. The series includes both glass and ceramic dishware – and even wooden serving trays – that can be freely combined with each other or even with entirely different tableware collections. This is precisely the perfect imperfection that we and Iittala love!

• Raami tableware >

See also:

• Iittala assortment >
• Holiday Season Shop >

Edit: Emmi Ratilainen Images: Iittala