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.
Two Timo Sarpaneva Scandinavian Modern Large Stainless Steel Chargers Platters
By Timo Sarpaneva
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Hard to find set of two stainless steel platters designed by Timo Sarpaneva and made in Finland by OPA Ltd. Designed in 1970, the large platter is model TS-300-62 (62 cm), and the sm...
Stainless Steel
Large Tiffany Crystal Glass Charger Serving Platter
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Impressive versatile glass plate from Tiffany. This tray or charger can be used as part of a traditional setting or stand alone even as a cheese tray on a kitchen or dining table.
Glass, Acrylic
Vintage Nino Cerruti Stainless Steel & Wood Platter Tray
Located in Torquay, GB
1980s stainless steel tray with wooden handles by Nino Cerruti. Elegant serve ware tray, with the stainless steel polished to a high mirrored shine. The wooden handles are made of ac...
Stainless Steel
$2,370 / set
H 0.75 in Dm 13 in
Charger Plate Platters Serveware Set of 4 Green Quartzite Marble Collectible
By Pieruga Marble, Barberini & Gunnell
Located in Ancona, Marche
Set of 4 hand carved charger plates from semi-precious green quartzite. Multiple use as charger plates, plates, platters and placers. Dimensions: D 3...
Quartz
$16,410 / set
H 1.97 in W 20.08 in D 14.57 in
Two Large Flora Danica Danish Porcelain Royal Copenhagen Oval Platters
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in London, GB
Two Large Flora Danica Danish Porcelain Royal Copenhagen Oval Platters Danish, 20th Century Height 5cm, width 51cm, depth 37cm These exceptional oval platters are part of the celeb...
Porcelain
$425 / item
H 9 in W 6 in D 6 in
Five Scandinavian Midcentury Blown Ice Glass Vases by Timo Sarpaneva Iittala
By Timo Sarpaneva, Iittala
Located in New York, NY
A collection of five elegant 'Ice Glass' vases by Finnish Artist, Timo Sarpaneva for Iittala. Dimensions: 1) H 9 x 6 x 6; 2) H 6 x 4 x 4; 3) H 6 x 4.5 x 4.5; 4) Cylinder H...
Blown Glass
Charger Plate Platters Serveware Imperial Green Marble Handmade Italy
By Pieruga Marble, Barberini & Gunnell
Located in Ancona, Marche
Hand carved charger plate from Imperial Green marble. Multiple use as charger plates, plates, platters and placers. Dimensions: D 33 x H 1.9 cm...
Marble
Postmodern Memphis Style Charger Platter by Rita Duvall, 1991
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern Memphis Style Charger Platter by Rita Duvall, 1991 Offered for sale is an overscale black and white studio hand-crafted post-modern decorative platter or charger. The p...
Ceramic
$2,702 / set
H 0.6 in Dm 13 in
Charger Plates Platters Serveware White Marble Christmas Decoration Handmade
By Barberini & Gunnell, Pieruga Marble
Located in Ancona, Marche
This 'Winter wonderland Snowflake' charger plates set of six pieces is inspired by ice crystals which are the perfect tasteful gift for the winter and Christmas period. Charger in polished absolute crystalline white marble from Italy. Thanks to their shape and size they can be used as presentation plate, centerpiece or even Christmas decoration...
Marble
$456 / item
H 0.75 in Dm 13 in
Charger Plate Platters Serveware Grey Marble Handmade Italy Collectible Design
By Barberini & Gunnell, Pieruga Marble
Located in Ancona, Marche
Hand carved charger plate from imperial grey marble. Multiple use as charger plates, plates, platters and placers. Dimensions: D 33 x H 1.9 cm. Available in different marbles, onyx...
Marble
Large Venini Vase 'Kukinto', Designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1991
By Venini, Timo Sarpaneva
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Venini Vase 'Kukinto', Designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1991 A monumental vase from the Kukinto series. Designed in 1991 by Timo Sarpaneva and produced 1992 by Venini, Murano. In...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$592 / item
H 0.75 in Dm 13 in
Charger Plate Platters Serveware Green Quartzite Marble Collectible Design Italy
By Barberini & Gunnell, Pieruga Marble
Located in Ancona, Marche
Hand carved charger plate from semi-precious green quartzite. Multiple use as charger plates, plates, platters and placers. Dimensions: D 33 x H 1.9 ...
Quartz
Charger Plates Platters Serveware White Statuary Marble Handmade Italy
By Pieruga Marble, Barberini & Gunnell
Located in Ancona, Marche
Hand carved charger plate from Statuary marble 'Altissimo'. Multiple use as charger plates, plates, platters and placers. The precious white statuary marble has always been the one p...
Marble