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 Dish TW 58 in Sterling Silver & Teak Handles, Kultakeskus 1966
By Tapio Wirkkala, Kultakeskus Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
A rare and sculptural Model TW 58 dish by Tapio Wirkkala, crafted in sterling silver and elegant teak handles. Produced in the 1966 by Kultakeskus in Hämeenlinna, Finland, this piece...
Silver
Sculptural Swedish Modern Teak "Gondola" Tray by Tapio Wirkkala for Kalmar
By Tapio Wirkkala, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gondola-form teakwood tray manufactured in the 1960s by Tapio Wirkkala for Kalmar of Sweden. Elegant, graceful form with rich color and vibrant teakwood grain. Conservatively ref...
Teak
Iittala Ultima Thule 56oz Serving Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Tapio Wirkkala was considered the pioneer of modern Finnish industrial art. Internationally recognized for his glass designs, Wirkkala’s greatest inspiration always came from his native Finland. Wirkkala defied the rules of glassblowing with his iconic Ultima Thule...
Glass
$1,213Sale Price / set|20% Off
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Porcelain Tea Sets
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal Netter
Located in Milano, IT
Rosenthal tea sets made of porcelain designed by Tapio Wirkkala represent the best combination of modern and traditional design. Created in 1969, Ros...
Ceramic
$401Sale Price|20% Off
Tapio Wirkaala "Porcelaine Noire" Dish Plate for Rosenthal Studio Linie, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Vintage dish plate in black porcelain designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Linie “Porcelaine Noire” serie with shiny and matte tone-on-tone dec...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala 'Apple' Silver Dish with Birch Handles TW 58, Kultakeskus 1950s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Helsinki, FI
Tapio Wirkkala dish model TW 58 in silver with black stained birch handles, made in the 1950s. This piece displays one of Wirkkala's many beautiful designs almost resembling a seashe...
Silver
Don Shoemaker Small Geometric Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating geometric marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwood...
Hardwood, Rosewood
$192Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 0.25 in W 15.75 in D 12.75 in
Tapio Wirkkala Freeform Molded Plywood Tray, 1950s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in San Diego, CA
Fincraft molded plywood tray designed in the 1950s by Tapio Wirkkala for Soinne et Kni, Helsinki. Embossed stamp on the bottom. Finland
Plywood
$1,400Sale Price / set|46% Off
H 2.5 in W 3.5 in D 4.5 in
Tapio Wirkkala Pair of 'Leaf' Dishes in Silver for Kultakeskus Oy, 1959 - 1960
By Kultakeskus Oy, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant pair of leaf form dishes, models TW-5 (l.) and TW-4 (r.), designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy. Both are in fine condition with all requisite hallmarks and "TW" s...
Silver
Vintage Rosenthal Porcelain Coffee or Tea Set, 1960s
By Rosenthal
Located in Bastogne, BE
Björn Wiinblad for Rosenthal - Studio Linie, Germany coffee or tea set. Large vintage German service of the famous Rosenthal Linie factory from Germany...
Porcelain
$560
H 0.5 in W 8 in D 10.38 in
Small Cocktail Tray by Christofle, French Art Deco Silver Plated Serving Tray
By Christofle
Located in Miami, FL
French Art Deco style silver-plated serving tray from Christofle. This small cocktail tray is hallmarked on the reverse. In very good condition, wear consistent with age, materials...
Silver Plate
36 Pieces Porcelain Rosenthal Tea Coffee Set for 12
By Rosenthal
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Rosenthal porcelain tea or coffee set for 12.
Porcelain
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
$895 / set
H 4.88 in W 5 in D 3.38 in
Pair of Rosenthal Studio Linie Gilt Porcelain No. 23 Cup & Saucers by Otto Piene
By Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A pair of fine porcelain cups & saucers. By Rosenthal. In the Künstlertasse Nr. 23 (lit. Artist Cup) pattern designed by Otto Piene. Both cup and saucer are richly gilded and have a multi-faceted, star shaped design. Each marked to the base with Rosenthal's maker's mark / Studio-linie / Germany / Künstlertasse Nr. 23 / Otto Piene / Piene's signature. Simply a wonderful pair Rosenthal cups...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Flatware, Extensive 91 Piece Set
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Atlanta, GA
Modernist stainless steel flatware set, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Austria, circa 1963. This is a large set containing 91 pieces total. They are constructed of dishwas...
Stainless Steel
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
$675
H 1.25 in W 30 in D 14.75 in
Large Dansk Design Teak Vintage Cutting Board Tray Platter by Jens H. Quistgaard
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Large mid-century Scandinavian Modern cutting board serving tray in teak wood designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk Design, Denmark THQ. This versatile piece is the perfect tool f...
Teak
$380Sale Price / set|61% Off
H 2.75 in Dm 3.13 in
Midcentury Modern German Blue & White Porcelain Coffee or Tea Set by Rosenthal
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful German porcelain coffee or tea cup set, with creamer and sugar, in white with touches of gold and blue. Set includes six cups, one creamer and one sugar bowl with lid, al...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala Finnish Hand Carved Leaf Platter
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Tapio Wirkkala Finnish Hand Carved Leaf Platter This piece measures: 6.5 wide x 4.5 deep x 1.25 inches high This platter is in excellent vintag...
Wood
Art Glass Object (Glass Leaf) by Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Amarillo, TX
Tapio Wirkkala Model nr. 3337 Art glass object (glass leaf) Iittala Finland; 1957 Mould-blown and line-cut glass ca. 24.2 cm x 20.2 cm x 6.6 cm Literature: Tapio Wirkkala:...
Art Glass
Ulta Rare Tapio Wirkkala Wood Leaf Platter 1951
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Munich, DE
one of the icons of design. designed by tapio wirkkala in 1951 and awarded with the gold metal at the fair in milan as " most beautiful object of the world ". manufactured by soinne ...
Large Tapio Wirkkala SIlver Platter
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A very large Tapio Wirkkala silver platter/low bowl for Kultakeskus Oy. This is a very special piece due to it's size and execution. These were only made to order and are rather di...
Tapio Wirkkala opened snail tray in Silver
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A beautiful low bowl/tray by Finnish Master Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus OY. Solid hand hammered silver formed in an organic snail-like form.