iittala Sarpaneva Cast Iron Pot

Designed in 1960 by Timo Sarpaneva, this carefully crafted cast iron pot is a Scandinavian icon. Besides being beautiful enough to claim a permanent spot on your stovetop, the thoughtful design of the Sarpaneva Cast Iron Pot grants it superior function. Coated with enamel, the cast iron cooks food evenly in the oven or on the stove while preventing food flavors from sticking to the surface. The detachable wooden handle can be used to lift the lid or the entire pot, making serving a cinch and reminding users of simpler days around the camp fire when a stick would be used to lift the lid and stir the food.

It was Sarpaneva's blacksmith grandfather that served as inspiration for this modern take on ancient cast iron pots. Sarpaneva once said that the idea was conceived by rethinking a traditional object in a way that wasn't too novel and would make "a damn good reindeer stew in the process." The Sarpaneva Cast Iron Pot design won the silver medal at the 1960 Milan Triennale and features in the Victoria and Albert Museum's collections.