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 Crystal Ice Bucket with Tongs, Finland, 1950's
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Ice Bucket with Clasp, Finland, 1950's, original tongs
Crystal
7 DESSERT BOWLS iittala ultima thule tapio wirkkala 1960s
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Mannheim, DE
7 'Ultima Thule' dessert bowls designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala in 1968. Dimensions in cm: Height 5 cm, diameter 11.5 cm. Dimensions in inches: Height 1.96", diameter 4.52"....
Glass
Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala – “Tapio” Glassware Service
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala – “Tapio” Glassware Service Complete 36-Piece Set Original Boxes Made in Finland A rare opportunity to acquire an exceptionally complete and beautifully ...
Crystal
1970s Tapio Wirkkala Set of 5 Niva Liquor Shot Glasses Iittala Finland
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Tapio Wirkkala Set of 5 Niva Liquor Shot Glasses Iittala Finland 2.75 h x 2.25 diameter Preowned vintage condition set of five Please see all images.
Art Glass
$280Sale Price / item|20% Off
Vintage Cristal 1960s Vase Mod. 3586 by T. Wirkkala for Karhula- Iittala
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Vintage cristal vase mod. 3586 designed by T. Wirkkala for Karhula- Iittala. Good condition: alone slightly opaque at the edge.
Glass
Lalique Ganymede Crystal Ice Bucket / Champagne Cooler / Vase
Located in New York, NY
Vintage crystal ice bucket, vase or champagne cooler from Lalique entitled Ganymede, dating from the 1980s. 9 in tall, 9 3/4 in wide and 8 3/4 in deep. 9.8 lbs. In excellent condi...
Crystal
$923
H 3.94 in Dm 5.91 in
Tapio Wirkkala Velvet Art Glass Vase "Jäkälä" model 3516, Iittala 1950s Finland
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful art glass vase model 3516, designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Iittala in Finland in the 1950s. In the manufacturing process the glass is blown in to a special...
Art Glass
Mid-Century Italian Mini Ice Bucket Diamond Cut Crystal Towle William Adams
By Baccarat
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, Italian crystal mini ice bucket crystal with silver plated hardware. Stamped ITALY , TOWLE- William Adams. Dimensions: 9" H x 4.75" diameter. Please visi...
Crystal, Silver Plate
Tapio Wirkkala Line-engraved Vase Model 3327, Iittala 1950s Finland
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful Line-engraved art glass vase model 3327, designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Iittala in Finland in the 1950s. in the manufacturing process the glass is blown i...
Art Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Glass Iittala Finland Liqueur Cocktail Glass
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Tapio Wirkkala liqueur cocktail glass for Iittala, Finland . Dimensions: 4" H x 3.25" diameter. Please visit take a look at our listings, we have an ama...
Glass
$120Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 6.88 in Dm 2.38 in
1960s Tapio Wirkkala Set of 4 Iittala Highball Tumbler Glasses Finland
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Set of 4 Glasses Highball Tumbler designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala. Finland, Scandinavian modern. No signature visible. Dimensions: 2.38 Diameter x 6...
Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Line-engraved Mushroom Vase 3552 Iittala 1955, Finland
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful Line-engraved art glass vase model 3552 designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Iittala in Finland in the 1955. Minimalist glass sculpture mimicking and named Tatt...
Crystal
$200Sale Price|20% Off
H 2 in Dm 5 in
Freeform Crystal Iceberg Ashtray / Catch All by Tapio Wirkkala Iittala Finland
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous freeform crystal iceberg ashtray / catch all by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala Finland, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and meas...
Crystal
Set of Iittala Ultima Thule Bowls 13 Pieces
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
A set of total 13 pieces. 12 clear glass serving bowls and one large bowl in the Ultima Thule pattern for Iittala Glass Co, Finland. Very good. Meas...
Glass
Vintage Art Glass Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1967
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
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 ...
Art Glass
$995
H 6.5 in Dm 5 in
Ice Bucket, Red Crystal, Baroque Style, Red Contemporary Crystal, Czech Republic
By Artel
Located in New York, NY
Decorative ice bucket in red crystal in a Baroque style. The ice bucket is made of crystal. Produced by Artel in Czech Republic. It is a contemporary item.
Blown Glass
$280Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 3.5 in Dm 7.5 in
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...
Art Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Ultima Thule for Iittala, Finland
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Vienna, AT
Consists of: 12 whiskey glasses, 6 shot glasses, carafe. Whiskey glasses with upper diameter 7, height 8.5 cm shot glasses with upper diameter 4.5, height 5.5 cm, carafe height 22 c...
Crystal