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.
Tapio Wirkkala Stainless Steel Puukko Knife with Leather Sheath Hackman Finland
By Tapio Wirkkala, Hackman
Located in London, GB
Tapio Wirkkala Puukko Knife by Hackman Finnish Design This vintage Puukko knife, designed by renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala and produc...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Tapio Wirkkala's TW 476 Bowl in Bronze
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A terrific handmade Bronze bowl for Kultakeskus Oy. These bowls are custom ordered and hand hammered to shape. An exceptional piece. Executed in 1974.
Bronze
$446Sale Price|25% Off
H 3.23 in W 2.59 in D 0.83 in
Ronson USA 1934 Art Deco Black Lacquered Rondette Desk Lighter in Stainless Stee
By Ronson Art Metal Works
Located in Miami, FL
A stainless steel lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful desk Rondette lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1934. This is a very unusual lighter designed with wonderful geometric patterns and crafted in solid steel with a central round body set upon two smaller cylindrical feet. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great contrast with the base polished steel. Extremely well made and solid construction with very nice care and attention to all details. This surely is a very decorative piece and a great conversation item in gorgeous and exceptional preserved condition. Weight: 104.9 Grams, (67.24 Dwt). Measurements: 66 mm by 21 mm by 82 mm (2.59 x 0.83 x 3.23 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "RONSON US PAT.RE.NO.19023 RONSON RONDETTE ART METAL WKS INC NEWARK NJ US PAT.RE.NO.19023". The Ronson lighter company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander...
Steel, Stainless Steel
$400Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.25 in W 0.75 in D 1.25 in
Marbles Gladstone WWII Era Ideal Fixed Blade Knife & Leather Sheath 8"
Located in Dayton, OH
Early to mid 20th century Marbles Gladstone fixed blade hunting / camping / combat knife. 4.5" blade with ridged thumb rest; aluminum pommel, leather wrapped grip. Includes leather s...
Metal
Collection Gilt Leather Bound Library Book Set
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Decorate your sturdy / Library room with this collection set of gilt leather bound library book set of eighteen volumes. Germany in storm and stress ...
Paper, Leather
$1,058
H 3.15 in W 8.27 in D 1.97 in
Black Loon Porcelain Figure by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Stockholm, SE
Black Loon Porcelain Figure by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1970s. Wirkkala, the Finnish designer and artist, created an iconic figure of a loon for the German porcelain company Ros...
Porcelain
Complete Collection Gilt Leather Bound Book Set
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Gilt leather bound sturdy / library room complete collection set. The set include twenty 28 volumes. Funk & Wagnalls, New Encyclopedia. Each book is in gr...
Leather, Paper
Set of Bronze Artillery Cannons with Italian Royal Insignia
Located in New York, NY
Set of bronze artillery cannons with Italian royal insignia. Set of three vintage patinated bronze artillery models including a larger cannon on hand ca...
Bronze
$230
H 2.25 in W 2.75 in D 2.63 in
Dice Steel Metal Sculpture or Paper Weight Mid-Century Modern, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage German Steel Dice Paperweight (Art Deco Style, c. Mid-20th Century) A striking minimalist sculpture and paperweight, this German steel cube features a single dice form balan...
Metal, Steel
Vintage Finnish Tapio Wirkkala for Hackman Puukko Knife & Sheath
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine puukko knife & sheath from the 1960's. Designed by Tapio Wirkkala and produced by Hackman. The puukko comprising a stainless steel blade, brass fittings, and a black nylon ...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$75 / item
H 9 in W 1.5 in D 7 in
New Shipment of over 200 Leather Bound Books in English, Photo's Are of Sets
Located in Buchanan, MI
New shipment of over 200 leather bound books in English, photo's are of sets. Preconditioned as we fully condition all of our books before they go out. Also have an extensive collect...
Leather, Paper
$360Sale Price|71% Off
H 8.5 in Dm 8 in
Abercrombie & Fitch Hand-Stitched Leather Pumpkin by Omersa & Company
By Dimitri Omersa, Abercrombie & Fitch
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Abercrombie & Fitch hand-stitched leather pumpkin by Omersa & Company. The wide selection of leather items designed by Dimitri Omersa were used for display and foo...
Leather
$914Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.63 in W 9.45 in D 6.5 in
Jacques Adnet, Black Leather Pipes Displayer, French, circa 1950
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This rare black leather pipes displayer has been made by famous French designer Jacques Adnet, circa 1950.
Leather
Tapio Wirkkala Glass Leaf Bowl Signed
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in San Diego, CA
Crystal, line cut leaf bowl by Finnish artist and designer Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala. Wirkkala’s themes often come from nature, like leaves, water, or ...
Crystal
Sold
H 8.55 in W 1.11 in D 0.83 in
Hackman Finland Tapio Wirkkala Stainless Steel Puukko Knife in Leather Sheath
By Tapio Wirkkala, Hackman
Located in London, GB
Puukko is a traditional smaller blade utility knife generally attached to a belt or button. Used for carving or fish cleaning /scaling. Puukko goes back ...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Sold
H 7.5 in W 6 in D 3.25 in
Pair of Rosenthal Crushed/ Crinkled White Glazed Porcelain Bags/ Vases/ Vessels
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in North Miami, FL
These sculptural Rosenthal crushed bags/vases/vessels are white porcelain. Signed on the bottom Rosenthal Studio Line Germany with a signature by Tapio Wirkkala. The smaller bag i...
Porcelain
Hourglass By Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sculptural and uncommon (only a small quantity was produced in the 1960s) hourglass precisely crafted from clear acrylic with white sand marking fifteen minute intervals.
Acrylic
Exceptional Tapio Wirkkala wenge and silver Cigar case/trinket box.
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A very rare Cigar box or Trinket box by Finnish Master Craftsman Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy. This is one of only 75 examples created of this form. Solid finger jointed w...
Wenge
Tapio Wirkkala brass candle holders for Kultakeskus Oy
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Pair of great Tapio Wirkkala candleholders for Kultakeskus Finland in solid brass.