Iittala Arkipelago

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal iittala arkipelago for your home. Each iittala arkipelago for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using glass, art glass and blown glass. There are many kinds of the iittala arkipelago you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Each iittala arkipelago bearing mid-century modern or Scandinavian Modern hallmarks is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one iittala arkipelago that is appealing in its simplicity, but Timo Sarpaneva, Iittala and Venini produced versions that are worth a look.

Prices for a iittala arkipelago can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $210 and can go as high as $3,875, while the average can fetch as much as $387.

Celebrated glassmaker Timo Sarpaneva was a pioneer of Finnish postwar design. He led the formation of the utilitarian and artistic side of mid-century modern style. Sarpaneva’s glass vases, serveware and table lamps have a sculptural yet functional quality, making them adaptable for both decorative and utilitarian use.

Sarpaneva was born in 1926 in Helsinki and spent his childhood visiting his grandparents in the countryside. There, he was influenced by a barter economy where everything was made by hand and traded for services and wares.

In 1948, Sarpaneva graduated from the Institute for Industrial Arts in Helsinki (now the University of Art and Design Helsinki). He participated in the 1951 Triennale di Milano, submitting an embroidered coffee cozy that confused but delighted the judges and garnered a silver medal.

Around this time, Sarpaneva began experimenting with glassblowing. He transformed the traditional wet-stick method by creating a bubble within the molten glass, allowing him to work from the inside out. In 1954, he returned to the Triennale di Milano and won his first Grand Prize.

In the 1950s, Sarpaneva was hired at the glassware company Iittala, where he became a leading glass designer. Sarpaneva even designed the company logo, which is still used today. He worked for the company for over four decades until his death in 2006 at 79. 

Sarpaneva’s illustrious career earned international recognition. His honors included being named Honorary Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts in London in 1963. He received honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Art in London in 1967 and the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1993.

In 2018, the Helsinki Design Museum exhibited a retrospective of “the golden boy of Finland’s Golden Age of design”.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Timo Sarpaneva decorative objects, serveware, lighting and more.