Along with architect Alvar Aalto, the designer Tapio Wirkkala was Finland’s leading contributor to the Scandinavian interpretation of modernism in the mid-20th century. Prolific and innovative, Wirkkala excelled in a wide range of fields, including glass, furniture, porcelain, jewelry and tableware. The hallmark of his talent was an ability to impart a craft aesthetic based on natural forms — leaves, ice, bubbles, birds — to industrially produced designs.
A native of Helsinki, Wirkkala studied at the national School of Applied Arts and took up a career in graphic design. After serving in the Finnish army during World War II, he joined the glassmaking firm Iittala, an association that would continue to the end of his life. Wirkkala learned every aspect of glassmaking in keeping with his belief that an artist-designer should be involved in all stages of production. His best-known works for Iittala are vases and drinking vessels that resemble either carved ice or icicles. In 1956, Wirkkala began a long relationship with the porcelain maker Rosenthal, for whom he designed elegant table pieces, such as the Finlandia coffee service and the biomorphic Pollo vases.
House Beautiful magazine declared Wirkkala’s Leaf platter the “most beautiful object” of 1951. (The acclaim led to his brief employment stint with industrial designer Raymond Loewy in New York.) That platter was one of the first designs Wirkkala made using laminated sheets of plywood sanded to a smooth surface that resembles an abstract leaf. It would go on to become a motif in many Wirkkala furniture pieces — most notably in inlaid coffee tables for Asko — and in a sense these are the works most emblematic of his personal aesthetic.
Wirkkala was a traditionalist in many ways, but he had a modernist’s practical approach, incorporating his leaf-like spirals into simple, functional objects. That is the core attraction of Wirkkala’s designs: They stand out with a striking, sculptural energy yet blend in as part of a warm and comfortable decor.
Find vintage Tapio Wirkkala furniture on 1stDibs.
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A rare and substantial sculptural sterling silver tureen by Bvlgari, Italy, circa 1970. This exceptional piece reflects the refined yet experimental spirit of Italian design during ...
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Ice Glass Bowl "Lunaria" by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1972
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A vintage "Lunaria" bowl designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala Glassworks in 1972. Marked with etched signature 'TAPIO WIRKKALA' on the rim. Iittala model number 3449. An authentic ...
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Large Vintage Art Glass Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1950s
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Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Vintage Art Glass Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1950s A rare art glass bowl, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala Glassworks in the 1950s. Mold-blown, crystal-clear gla...
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Large Vintage Art Glass Bowl 'Sulka' by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1950s
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Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Vintage Art Glass Bowl 'Sulka' by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1950s A large vintage art glass bowl 'Sulka' (feather) designed by Tapio Wirkkala...
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Large 'Stellaria' Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala
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MCM "Lunaria" Full Lead Crystal Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Skruf of Sweden
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Mid-Century Modern "Lunaria" Full Lead Crystal Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Skruf of Sweden, circa 1970s. An exceptional mid-century modern full lead crystal bowl designed by the legen...
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Large Vintage Art Glass Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1950s
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Located in Berghuelen, DE
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