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.
Pair of Modernist Tapio Wirkkala Serving Trays in Alpaca & Teak, TW 225, 1960s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Kultakeskus Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful pair of serving trays, model TW 225, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus in Finland in 1959. Combining sculptural simplicity with exceptional craftsmanship, the tr...
Teak, Alpaca
A Pair of Tapio Wirkkala, Leaf Serving Bowls In Silver & Teak, TW-85, 1960s
By Kultakeskus Oy, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful pair of leaf shaped silver bowls with teak handles, designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Kultakeskus Oy in Finland in the 1960s. A perfect display of Wirkkala i...
Silver
Tapio Wirkkala Necklase Hopeakuu "Silver Moon", Finland 1973
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Kiiminki, FI
Tapio Wirkkala Sterling Silver Necklase Hopeakuu "Siver Moon", Pendant diameter 6.5cm and chain length 50cm. Manufactured by Nils Westerback Kultakeskus, Finland 1973. Very nice vint...
Silver
Tapio Wirkkala, Set of Silver Pitchers and Cups, 18 Pieces, Finland 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Kultakeskus Oy
Located in Amarillo, TX
Tapio Wirkkala. Set of silver pitchers and cups, 18 pieces. Kultakeskus Oy, Hämeenlinna, Finland. Marked with makers mark, Finnish assay mark, 925H, Hämeenlinna town mark, year...
Sterling Silver
Tapio Wirkkala Hopeakuu " Siver Moon " earrings
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Kiiminki, FI
Tapio Wirkkala Sterling Silver Earrings Hopeakuu "Siver Moon", Earrings diameter 2,8cm. Manufactured by Nils Westerback Kultakeskus, Finland 1971. Very nice vintage condition.
Silver
$1,400Sale Price / set|46% Off
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
$1,800Sale Price|55% Off
Tapio Wirkkala Kinetic Silver Moon Hopeakuu Pendant, 1974
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hopeakuu (Finnish: silver moon) sterling pendant designed by Tapio Wirkkala, comprising nine concentric rings that move independently around a small orb at ...
Sterling Silver
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.
Silver
$5,694Sale Price|20% Off
Tapio Wirkkala Set of Sterling Silver Hand Hammered Cups and a Pitcher
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Espoo, FI
Silver pitcher, designed by Tapio Wirkkala, manufactured by Kultakeskus Oy, 1970s. Hand hammered silver. Marked and signed. Good vintage condition, minor patina and wear consistent w...
Sterling Silver
Tapio Wirkkala Silver Punch Set
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A beautiful solid silver Pitcher and cups by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus, Oy. Created by a single craftsperson from start to finish.
Silver
Danish Vintage Teak Serving Trays 1960s Set of 4
By Silva, Wiggers
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish vintage teak serving trays 1960s set of 4. Danish Mid-Century Modern teak trays. This set consists of: A large oval tray by Silva, ...
Glass, Teak
Sterling Silver Large Serving Bowls / 2
By Gorham
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Black star and Gorham sterling silver platter - Both sterling silver serving bowls have good weight and in good condition. Measures: 10.5 diameter x 1 depth Virginia carvel...
Sterling Silver
Alfred Dunhill siver Miniature photoframe
By Alfred Dunhill
Located in Dereham, GB
Alfred Dunhill siver Miniature photoframe With Black enamel cat with light blue bow collar Etched DUNHILL LONDON on top of back Hallmarks AD London 1939 Black Easel back, Slides down...
Silver, Enamel
$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
Pair of Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Bowls
By Randahl Shop
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We are thrilled to offer you this pair of sterling silver bowls by The Randahl Shop of Chicago, Illinois. Hand-hammered and designed in the Arts & Crafts style, it’s uber-sleek and c...
Sterling Silver
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
Pair of Sterling Silver Tiffany Bowls
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a pair of sterling silver Mid-Century modern bowls by the world renowned Tiffany & CO. With their distinctive simplicity and understated elegance they exemplify...
Sterling Silver
Lot of Two Imperial Russian Silver Vodka Cups
By Israel Eseevich Zakhoder
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Lot of Two Imperial Russian Silver Vodka Cups Silver vodka cup, tapered cylindrical body with flared lip finely engraved with typical alt...
Silver
Vintage Danish Modern Large Serving Tray in Teak, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A large rectangular serving tray measuring 60x40x4.5 cm. It is lightweight but built as a tank with solid teak profiles with well-made dovetail connections. If you dare it will serve...
Teak
$4,107 / set
H 3.35 in Dm 8.47 in
Colorful Handmade Eva Hidström Sterling Silver Enameled Bowl Set, Finland 1970s
By Kultakeskus Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful set of Eva Hidström highly collectable sterling silver handmade and hammered bowls with colourful enamel on the inside. Rarely on offer as a s...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Tapio Wirkkala Glass Leaf Bowl Signed
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
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
$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 Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
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
Sterling silver vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus
By Kultakeskus Oy, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in PARIS, FR
This sterling silver vase, designed in 1954 by Tapio Wirkkala and executed by Kultakeskus Oy in 1959, stands out for its sleek and refined design. The vase features an oval shape wit...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 3.94 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Duo, Silver-Plated Metal Flatware Set for 12 People, Tapio Wirkkala, Christofle
By Christofle, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Uccle, BE
Designed in 1957 by Tapio Wirkkala, the “Duo” flatware set is made of silver plated metal. It is part of the “Formes Nouvelles” (“New Shapes”) range imagined by the well-known Parisian silversmith Christofle. The flatware set consists of 121 pieces for 12 people: • 12 dinner forks • 12 dinner knives • 12 dinner spoons • 12 fish forks • 12 fish knives • 12 starter forks • 12 starter knives • 12 dessert forks • 12 coffee spoons • 6 mocha spoons • 2 salad servers • 2 vegetables servers...
Silver
Tapio Wirkkala, Half Moon Necklace
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful kinetic design 'half moon' pendant designed by Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) and produced by Nestor Westerback. The necklace is made from s...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 3.94 in Dm 2.56 in
Pair of Candleholders Designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus, Finland, 1963
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of candleholders designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus, Finland, 1963. Silver. These examples made in 1999. Dimension: H 10 cm/ 4'' D 6.5 cm/ 2 1/2''.
Silver
Necklace Silver Moon Designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Stockholm, SE
Necklace silver moon designed by Tapio Wirkkala for N. Westerberg, Finland, 1970s. Sterling silver. Pendant L: 11 cm/ 4 3/8''.
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 6.74 in W 5.12 in D 4.73 in
Stamped Pair of Silver Tapio Wirkkala Candlesticks, Origin: Finland, Circa 1966
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in New York, NY
Pair of silver candlesticks by Tapio Wirkkala (1915 Finland 1985), manufactured by Helsingfors, stamped: Käyttökulumaa, steariinin 'jälkiä, origin: Helsinnki, Finland, circa 1966.
Silver
Necklace Silver Moon Designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland, 1970s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Stockholm, SE
Necklace Silver Moon designed by Tapio Wirkkala for N. Westerberg, Finland. 1970s. Sterling silver. Pendant L: 11 cm/ 4 3/8''.
Sterling Silver
Sculptural Sterling Silver Pendant by Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural sterling silver pendant necklace, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Nils Westerback Oy, Finland, circa 1971. Signed with impressed m...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Coffee Set by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy
By Tapio Wirkkala, Kultakeskus Oy
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Magnificent three-piece coffee set with very rare serving tray by Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala (1915–1985) for Kultakeskus Oy, Hämeenlinna, Finland. Sterling silver with ebonized ...
Sterling Silver
Tapio Wirkkala TW 42 Silver Vase
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A beautiful rare Solid silver bud vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus. These vases were only made from 1954-55 and were handmade to order.
Sterling Silver
Tapio Wirkkala Geometric Silver Vase
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Nice geometric solid silver vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus. A rare example with a bark-like side and a smooth side. These are hand made to order.
Sterling Silver
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...