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 Hackman, Tapio Wirkkala
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
$995 / set
H 5.38 in Dm 0.38 in
Pair of Vintage Montblanc Meisterstruck & Starwalker Pens with Boxes & Papers
By Montblanc
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of vintage rollerball pens were made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. theiThe black cased pen from this grouping is their "Meisterstruck" model with a clear tip on the cap, and a gold band around the center of the barrel with "MONTBLANC" and "MEISTERSTRUCK" in block letters. The other pen of this group with the brushed metal case is their "Starwalker" model. Both pens come with thier original fitted boxes, and we have one outer box and some paperwork. Both of these Montblanc rollerball pens...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique Fountain Pen with Papers & Boxes
By Montblanc
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This fountain pen was made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. This fountain pen is their 'Meisterstuck' model and has...
Gold, Stainless Steel
$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
$1,029
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
$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
$4,800
H 7.49 in W 4.73 in D 3.75 in
Pair of Bookends in Patinated Bronze by Tinos, Made in Denmark, 1930s
By Tinos
Located in Lejre, DK
Pair of bookends in bonze, made in Denmark. Great original condition.
Bronze
$500
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
$2,745 / set
H 9.3 in W 6.5 in D 1.6 in
Gilt Leather Bound Book Set, 20 Volumes, Mid-20th Century Decor
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
$1,800Sale Price|55% Off
H 2.63 in Dm 2.63 in
Tapio Wirkkala Kinetic Silver Moon Hopeakuu Pendant, 1974
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hopeakuu (Finnish: silver moon) sterling pendant designed by Tapio Wirkkala, comprising nine concentric rings that move independently around a small orb at ...
Sterling Silver
Tapio Wirkkala / VASE / Iittala
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Shibuya-Ku, JP
This piece is made using a special glass developed by Iittala called “Q Colour,” which features a pastel-toned, semi-transparent blue glass that emits a unique glow when light passes...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
1950s Bag with Embroidery and Silk
Located in Marbella, ES
1950s bag with embroidery and silk.
Fabric, Silk
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.