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Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Serveware

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.

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Creator: Tapio Wirkkala
Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Ice Bucket with Tongs, Finland, 1950's
Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Ice Bucket with Tongs, Finland, 1950's

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

Category

1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Serveware

Materials

Crystal

Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala – “Tapio” Glassware Service
Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala – “Tapio” Glassware Service

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 ...

Category

1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Serveware

Materials

Crystal

Vintage Cristal 1960s Vase Mod. 3586 by T. Wirkkala for Karhula- Iittala
Vintage Cristal 1960s Vase Mod. 3586 by T. Wirkkala for Karhula- Iittala

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.

Category

1960s Space Age Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Serveware

Materials

Glass

7 DESSERT BOWLS iittala ultima thule tapio wirkkala 1960s
7 DESSERT BOWLS iittala ultima thule tapio wirkkala 1960s

7 DESSERT BOWLS iittala ultima thule tapio wirkkala 1960s

By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala

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"....

Category

1960s Finnish Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Serveware

Materials

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1970s Tapio Wirkkala Set of 5 Niva Liquor Shot Glasses Iittala Finland
1970s Tapio Wirkkala Set of 5 Niva Liquor Shot Glasses Iittala Finland

1970s Tapio Wirkkala Set of 5 Niva Liquor Shot Glasses Iittala Finland

By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala

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.

Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Serveware

Materials

Art Glass

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1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Crystal Serveware

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Tapio Wirkkala crystal serveware for sale on 1stDibs.

Tapio Wirkkala crystal serveware 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 crystal serveware, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original crystal serveware by Tapio Wirkkala were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in finland during the 20th century. Prices for Tapio Wirkkala crystal serveware can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $275 and can go as high as $989, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $321.