Skip to main content

Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Finnish, 1915-1985

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.

to
2
7
7
2
5
2
4
1
3
2
1
3
2
2
2
1
4
2
7
5
1
1
7
7
7
210
35
33
32
21
Creator: Tapio Wirkkala
Modern Ultima Thule Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Finland 7 Glass Bowls
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Miami, FL
Tapio Wirkkala's 1960s Scandinavian Modern creation of Ultima Thule for Iittala, Finland. This design was meant to interpret the melting ice of a snow covered Finnish island. This de...
Category

1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Tapio Wirkkala Cup Filigrana for Venini Murano Signed, 1980s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Rare Murano hand blown dark amethyst/black "Filigrana Nera" cup. Excellent and very fine cylindrical cup with "black filigree" designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini, Murano, circa 19...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Sterling silver bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus
By Tapio Wirkkala, Kultakeskus Oy
Located in PARIS, FR
This bowl, designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1957 for Kultakeskus Oy, embodies the essence of Finnish design: sleek, elegant. Its fluid and minimalist shape, characteristic of Wirkkala's...
Category

1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Sterling Silver

Tapio Wirkkala Rosenthal Germany Studio Line Polygon White & Gold Serving Bowl
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in New York, NY
A multi-sided porcelain serving bowl in the Polygon pattern designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Germany's Studio Line collection. All white with gold edged sides.
Category

1970s German Minimalist Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

Tapio Wirkkala, Serving Bowl in Silver with Teak Handle, TW-85, 1956
By Tapio Wirkkala, Kultakeskus Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
A leaf shaped silver serving dish with a teak handle, model TW85 designed and signed by Tapio Wirkkala. This dish is from 1956. A perfect example of Wirkkala's genious designs derive...
Category

1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Silver

'Karelia' Porcelain Leaf-Pattern Dish by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in London, GB
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, c. 1970 ‘Karelia’ leaf-pattern dish White porcelain Very good condition with only very minor marks Dimensions, approx..: lenght 28cm, width 9cm...
Category

1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Tapio Wirkkala Bronze Bowl TW491
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A very nice and rather large solid bronze bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy, ca. 1974 Sculpted and hand turned with applied bronze feet. Stamped to bottom .
Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Bronze

Related Items
Porcelain Red "Medusa" Tureen / Serving Bowl with Lid by Versace for Rosenthal
By Versace, Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful porcelain red "Medusa" tureen / serving bowl with lid by Versace for Rosenthal, circa 1990s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measu...
Category

Late 20th Century American Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

"Studio Line" White Porcelain Tea Pot by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Modern "Studio Line" white porcelain tea pot by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condi...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

Green Handkerchief Bowl - Venini Murano Probably Fratelli Toso
By Fratelli Toso, Venini
Located in Stockholm, SE
A stunning handkerchief bowl probably produced and designed by Fratelli Toso at Venini in the 1960s. The bowl is 12 cm (4.8") tall and in best condition. It is not signed or labeled.
Category

1960s Italian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Tapio Wirkkala's Snail bowl in silver
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A great little solid silver handworked "snail" bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy.
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Silver

TAPIO WIRKKALA 1962 Finland Modernist Sculptural Dish-Tray in .916 Sterling
By Kultakeskus Oy, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Miami, FL
Modern sculptural tray designed by Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985). Fabulous and very rare modernist tray dish, designed by the silversmith artist Tapio Wirkkala, back in the 1955. The sculptural tray has been crafted by Kultakeskus Oy in the city of Oulu, Finland in the shape of a boat in solid .916/.999 sterling silver with high polished finish. The incredible design is dated 1962 and is made up with a navette shaped piece, with several embossed levels in low and high elliptical with an elliptical hammered recess and an elliptical convex base, which create a fabulous optical effect. This tray is beautiful and elegant piece by one of the great 20th century designers is in lovely condition. It is a piece of sculptural art and will display with great eye appeal. Note: This is the model TW-114. Weight: 186.2 Grams, (119.40 Dwt). Measurements: 95 mm by 301 mm by 26 mm (3.75 x 11.85 x 1.04 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped and engraved with the Finnish crown mark; the maker's mark, the mark for the assay of the .916 silver, the code for the date of production of 1962, the mark for the town of Oulu and signed in full, "TAPIO WIRKKALA 916H 1-7". Tapio Wirkkala Wirkkala was born in Hanko in 1915. He attended the Töölö co-educational school in Helsinki. His father, Ilmari Wirkkala, was a cemetery architect, and mother Selma (née Vanhatalo) a wood-carver. His sister Helena Korvenkontio and brother Tauno Wirkkala were also artists. Wirkkala's work ranges from designs of plastic ketchup bottles and metalwork to glass, ceramics and plywood in a range of styles. His success as a glass designer began in 1946 when he designed the Kantarelli vase for Iittala, and the mass-produced Tapio collection was launched in 1954. His range was immense, including glassware, stoneware, jewellery, and furniture for mass production, as well as individual sculptures in several media. He designed commemorative postage stamps for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, and also designed the Finnish markka banknotes introduced in 1955. In the early 1950s, Wirkkala worked as the artistic director at the Helsinki Central School of Industrial Design. The WIR lightbulb designed by Wirkkala for Airam Electric was awarded the Grand Prix at the XII Milan Triennial in 1960. Among his most famous work have been the designs for the Finlandia vodka bottle (1970–1999) and for Iittala's Ultima Thule set of kitchen glasses. Both glassware items feature a dripping icicle look, and in the case of the Iittala's glassware it is said to have taken thousands of hours to develop a glassblowing technique that would produce the effect. Wirkkala did much of his initial design work using a traditional Finnish carving knife, the puukko. Wirkkala designed his own version of the knife, the Tapio Wirkkala Puukko...
Category

1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Porcelain Platter, Rosenthal Classic Rose, Germany, 1970s
By Rosenthal
Located in Chorzów, PL
Porcelain platter with openwork decorations and a rose motif. Signed Rosenthal Classic Rose. Made in Germany in the 70s of the last century. ...
Category

1970s German Belle Époque Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

1952 Tapio Wirkkala Iittala Finland Set of 4 Martini Cocktail Glasses
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Tapio Wirkkala Iittala Finland Set of 4 Martini Cocktail Glasses Design Tapio Wirkkala 1952 4.5 diameter x 6.25 tall An elegant silhouette is...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Crystal

Set of 3 Paper Bag Vases by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Germany, 1960s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Set of three paper bag vases designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Rosenthal, Germany, 1977. The large vase is 15cm high, 10cm wide and 6cm deep. The small vase is 10cm h...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Dansk Teak Serving Bowl by Jens Quistgaard Denmark
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A teak serving bowl designed by the iconic designer Jens H. Quistgaard who's organic pieces including pepper mills, serving pieces and furniture were both practical and beautiful . T...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Teak

Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Porcelain Noir, 1960
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful cylindrical black matte porcelain vase designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal/Siemens, with sublime relief of beaded pearls running down vertical lines, gives an impressi...
Category

1960s German Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Art Glass Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1967
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Art glass vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1967 A large vintage art glass vase designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala Glassworks in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Ultima Thule Glass Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ultima Thule Footed Glass Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala Finland, 1968 "a simple way to bring some style to your salad" "This beautiful “Ultima Thule” Glass Bowl was designed...
Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Previously Available Items
Silver Bowl Designed by Tapio Wirkkala Finland
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Turku, FI
Stylish design bowl that also works in everyday use! Bowl is signed: TW, Hopeakeskus,, Handmade in Finland. (830 / X7 Silver) Look Photos. Material and dimensions: Hand hammer...
Category

Late 20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Silver

Modern Ultima Thule Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Finland 7 Glass Bowls
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Miami, FL
Tapio Wirkkala's 1960s Scandinavian Modern creation of Ultima Thule for Iittala, Finland. This design was meant to interpret the melting ice of a snow covered Finnish island. This de...
Category

1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Tapio Wirkkala Compote and Candle Stick Set
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Tapio Wirkkala Compote and candle stick center piece set with dessert serving bowl and individual bowls. Glass is decorated in a raised random raindrop finish perfect for you holiday...
Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Early Tapio Wirkkala Pair of Large Glass Comb Cut Leaf Bowls, 1954
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Dronten, NL
Tapio Wirkkala pair of large glass comb cut leaf bowls designed in 1954 for Iittala. Original 1950s examples. One bowl is inscribed Tapio Wirkkala - Iittala, 1957, the other bowl Tap...
Category

1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio-Line, Three Bowls in White Porcelain
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio-line, porcelain noire, three bowls in white porcelain, modern design, fluted. Designed in 1962. The larg...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Spectacular Silver bowl By Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A beautiful solid silver , hand hammered bowl by Finnish Master Craftsman Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy. This example has a hammered finish bowl bottom with a smooth tapered rim...
Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Tapio Wirkkala's "Jaansaro" or "Iceblock" bowl # 3847 by Iittala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Dronten, NL
This is Tapio Wirkkala's "Jaansaro" or "Iceblock" bowl # 3847 by Iittala. It can be found in "Tapio Wirkkala: Eye, Hand & Thought" on pages 150 & 300. It is a still mould blown cryst...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Glass Serving Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in New York, NY
Textured glass bowl designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iitala. Finland, circa 1970.

Item may be viewed at our showroom at Center 44, 222 East 44th Street, New York, NY 10...
Category

1970s Finnish Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Serving Bowls

Tapio Wirkkala serving bowls for sale on 1stDibs.

Tapio Wirkkala serving bowls are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Tapio Wirkkala serving bowls, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serving bowls by Tapio Wirkkala were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider serving bowls by and Iittala. Prices for Tapio Wirkkala serving bowls can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $105 and can go as high as $2,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $930.

Recently Viewed

View All