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.
ROSENTHAL - Tapio Wirkkala - Porcelain Tea Cup & Saucer - Germany - 20th Century
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Chatham, ON
ROSENTHAL (Manufacturer) - STUDIO LINE (Series) - TAPIO WIRKKALA (Designer) - Mid Century porcelain tea cup and saucer - gilt decorated rims - raised whiplash pattern and handle - ea...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal Studio-Line ‘Modulation’ sauce cream jug, 1960s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in London, GB
Tapio Wirkkala (Finnish, 1915-1985) ‘Modulation’ sauce jug Designed c. 1960, produced by Rosenthal, Germany, as part of the Studio-Line series Ceramic Excellent condition L 17 cm, D...
Ceramic
$300Sale Price|30% 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 Composition Secunda Grey Set 34 Piece
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare coffee and cake set in Rosenthal (Germany) bone china designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland 1963. 6 mocha cups with their saucers 6 coffee cups with their saucers Coffee pot Milk jug Sugar bowl 6 cake plates 20cm...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Porcelain Coffee Cup And Saucer Demitasse Black And Gold 1940
By Rosenthal
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Rosenthal Porcelain Tea Cup or Coffee Cup And Saucer Demitasse Black And Gold Art Nouveau Venetian Style. Rare antique porcelain go...
Porcelain
German Rosenthal Porcelain Tea Pot Model Barocco by Versace
By Rosenthal, Versace
Located in Vilnius, LT
German Rosenthal porcelain tea pot. Model: Versace Barocco. Stamped on the bottom.
Porcelain
$65
H 2.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Rosenthal Footed Demitasse Cup and Saucer Set Moss Rose Pompadour Porcelain 1958
By Rosenthal
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Rosenthal Porcelain Footed Demitasse Cup and Saucer Set Moss Rose Pompadour.Rosenthal - Continental China in the lovely Moss Rose Pompadour Pattern on an ivory background with off ce...
Porcelain
$380 / set
H 3 in Dm 4.5 in
Collection 6 Espresso Coffee Cup and Saucer Art Porcelain Rosenthal Studio Line
By Rosenthal
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Collection of Six Rosenthal Studio Line Art Porcelain Espresso Cups and Saucers, Germany, circa 1980s A beautiful and rare collection of six porcelain espresso cups and saucers from ...
Porcelain
$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
Rosenthal Andy Warhol ‘Daisy‘’ XL Cup and Saucer
By Andy Warhol, Rosenthal
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Rosenthal Studio-Line XL cup with saucer, suitable for a latte, soup, tea or your cereals. Andy Warhol, quite possibly the greatest pop art artist of our time. The Flowers print port...
Porcelain
Gianni Versace for Rosenthal, Porcelain Miniature Jug. "Russian Dream"
Located in København, Copenhagen
Gianni Versace for Rosenthal, porcelain miniature jug. "Russian Dream". In perfect condition. 2000s. Marked. Original gift box included. Dimensions...
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
$220Sale Price|20% Off
H 2 in Dm 4.13 in
Porcelain Coffee Espresso Cup Saucer Rosenthal White Gold, Early 20th Century
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful German white porcelain and gold gilt coffee espresso or tea demitasse cup and saucer by Rosenthal, circa early-20th century, Germa...
Porcelain
$360 / set
H 1.97 in Dm 1.97 in
Rosenthal, Germany. Set of six espresso cups with saucers in porcelain.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rosenthal, Germany. A set of six espresso cups with saucers in porcelain. Decorated with pink roses. Gold trim. 1930s/40s. Marked. Perfect condition. Cups: Height 5.5 cm. x Diameter ...
Porcelain
$140Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.5 in W 8 in D 4.25 in
"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...
Porcelain
$244Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.29 in Dm 8.67 in
Tapio Wirkkala for ROSENTHAL POLYGON PATRAS huge bowl fruit plate Ø 29cm 1970s
Located in Landshut, BY
Tapio Wirkkala for ROSENTHAL STUDIO LINE POLYGON PATRAS huge bowl fruit plate Ø 29cm mid 1970s (Wirkkala designed the Polygon shape - Alain le Foll designed the flower ornaments) ...
Pottery
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, marked.
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal Studio-Line ‘Modulation’ coffee pot, 1960s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in London, GB
Tapio Wirkkala (Finnish, 1915-1985) ‘Modulation’ coffee pot Designed c. 1960, produced by Rosenthal, Germany, as part of the Studio-Line series Ceramic Excellent condition L 19 cm, ...
Ceramic
Tapio Wirkkala Tea Set for Rosenthal Series Noire
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 8 cups with saucers plus pitcher with brass handle. No chips!
Porcelain
Vase Rosenthal Paper Bag Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Decorative porcelain vase in a form of a paper bag by Tapio wirkkala for Rosenthal.
Porcelain
Signed Modernist Hourglass Form Porcelain Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful porcelain vase was realized by the esteemed designer Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal in Germany, during the latter half of the 20th century. It features a white channeled...
Gold
Sold
H 7.88 in W 10.63 in D 8.67 in
Tapio Wirkkala White Porcelaine "Pollo" Vase for Rosenthal Studio Linie, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Big porcelaine “Pollo” vase designed by Tapio Wirkala for Rosenthal Studio Linie, Germany, 1970s. Marked ‘Rosenthal Studio Linie Germany’ and signed below ...
Porcelain
Set of 12 Mid-Century Noir Dinner Plates by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
This set of 12 black porcelain Noir dinner plates was designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, circa 1970. Each round plate features a slim high-gloss lip, a wide rim rendered in Wi...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala Jahresteller Plate for Rosenthal
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
Round porcelain plate or plaque with indented "bubbles" and a gilt-glazed top surface. Designed by Tapio Wirkkala and produced by Rosenthal Studio Line in 1971 in a limited edition o...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala 'Pollo' Vases for Rosenthal Studio Line, 1970
By Tapio Wirkkala, Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful bisque 'Pollo' bud vases designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland for Rosenthal Studio Line,.1973, marked. Priced individually.
Porcelain
Tapio Wirrkala for Rosenthal Studio Line
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Hugh 144 piece set of Tapio Wirrkala for Rosenthal's Studio Line in black and white porcelain. inventory: 12 Bread and Butters, 12 Salad Plates, 12 Dinne...
Rosenthal, Porcelain Mocha Service, Wirkkala Variation after 1963
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rosenthal, porcelain mocha service, Wirkkala variation after 1963. 15-piece mocha service for six people. The designer Tapio Wirkkala designed this tea service with the name ‘Variation’ in 1963. The shape adorn fluted carcasses and flags. In addition a purple fond. The 15-piece mocha service for six people is comprised of: One mocha pot...
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Coffee Service "Variation, " 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in København, Copenhagen
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, coffee service "Variation," 1970s. Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) Finnish designer. Consisting of: One co...