Pair of Tapio Wirkkala 'Puukko' Knives Produced by Hackman
View Similar Items
Pair of Tapio Wirkkala 'Puukko' Knives Produced by Hackman
About the Item
- Creator:Hackman (Manufacturer),Tapio Wirkkala (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Both knives have minor scratches. Smaller knife with minor dent on brass.
- Seller Location:Hudson, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU84736928433
Tapio Wirkkala
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.
- Carving Knife by Tapio WirkkalaBy Tapio Wirkkala, HackmanLocated in Sagaponack, NYA carving knife in brushed steel having a stained oak handle attached to the blade by wooden pegs. A silver tag on the handle documents the materials came from the Swedish ship...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Tableware
MaterialsSteel
- Set of Serving Cutlery Designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland, 1950sBy Tapio WirkkalaLocated in Stockholm, SESet of serving cutlery designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland, 1950s. A set of serving spoons and olive forks. Measures: Forks: L 26 cm/ 10 1/8" Spoons...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Tableware
MaterialsWood
- Tapio Wirkkala Carving set for Hackman - special editionBy Tapio WirkkalaLocated in Klintehamn, SEA carving set in brushed steel having a stained oak handle attached to the blade by wooden pegs. The oak comes from the Swedish ship Riksvasa, that sank in 1623, and was famously exp...Category
Vintage 1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Knife Boxes
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Composition Cutlery Set, Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Germany 1963By Tapio WirkkalaLocated in St Ouen, FRComplete set of 58 place settings by the famous Finnish designer created for Rosenthal and part, since 1963, of the permanent collections of MOMA. Executed in stainless steel it comb...Category
Vintage 1960s German Scandinavian Modern Tableware
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Flatware, Extensive 92 Piece SetBy Rosenthal, Tapio WirkkalaLocated in Atlanta, GAModernist stainless steel flatware set, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Austria, circa 1963. This is a large set containing 92 pieces total. They are constructed of dishwas...Category
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Tapio Wirkkala Tray Produced by Soinne et Kni in FinlandBy Tapio WirkkalaLocated in Limhamn, Skåne länVery rare tray designed by Tapio Wirkkala. Produced by Soinne et Kni in Finland.Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsBirch, Laminate