Timo Sarpaneva Vases and Vessels

Finnish, 1926-2006

Celebrated glassmaker Timo Sarpaneva was a pioneer of Finnish postwar design. He led the formation of the utilitarian and artistic side of mid-century modern style. Sarpaneva’s glass vases, serveware and table lamps have a sculptural yet functional quality, making them adaptable for both decorative and utilitarian use.

Sarpaneva was born in 1926 in Helsinki and spent his childhood visiting his grandparents in the countryside. There, he was influenced by a barter economy where everything was made by hand and traded for services and wares.

In 1948, Sarpaneva graduated from the Institute for Industrial Arts in Helsinki (now the University of Art and Design Helsinki). He participated in the 1951 Triennale di Milano, submitting an embroidered coffee cozy that confused but delighted the judges and garnered a silver medal.

Around this time, Sarpaneva began experimenting with glassblowing. He transformed the traditional wet-stick method by creating a bubble within the molten glass, allowing him to work from the inside out. In 1954, he returned to the Triennale di Milano and won his first Grand Prize.

In the 1950s, Sarpaneva was hired at the glassware company Iittala, where he became a leading glass designer. Sarpaneva even designed the company logo, which is still used today. He worked for the company for over four decades until his death in 2006 at 79.

Sarpaneva’s illustrious career earned international recognition. His honors included being named Honorary Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts in London in 1963. He received honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Art in London in 1967 and the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1993.

In 2018, the Helsinki Design Museum exhibited a retrospective of “the golden boy of Finland’s Golden Age of design”.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Timo Sarpaneva decorative objects, serveware, lighting and more.

Timo Sarpaneva vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.

Timo Sarpaneva vases and vessels 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 Timo Sarpaneva vases and vessels, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 50 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 4 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original vases and vessels by Timo Sarpaneva were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider vases and vessels by Tapio Wirkkala, Gunnel Nyman, and Nuutajärvi Notsjõ. Prices for Timo Sarpaneva vases and vessels can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $222 and can go as high as $10,208, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,616.