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.
Hand Woven Abstract Carpet Designed by Timo Sarpaneva
By Timo Sarpaneva
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Handwoven wool carpet designed by Timo Sarpaneva from the series "Gulf of Bothnia". Carpet measures 7 feet square and we had it professionally cleaned. Label says the following: H...
Wool, Nylon
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.
Silk
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.
Silk
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.
Silk
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.
Silk
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.
Silk
Hand Woven Aubusson Carpet Brown Needlepoint Traditional Wool Area Rug
Located in Wembley, GB
This attractive wool rug has been woven with an all-over repeating pattern in accents of beige, red and green. Vintage rugs are popular in today's market with both classic and contem...
Tapestry, Wool, Cotton, Natural Fiber, Organic Material
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation. Measures: 10 x 14 feet.
Silk
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool velvet on cotton foundation.
Wool
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool velvet on cotton foundation.
Wool
Wool Rug 1950s Hand Tufted Abstract Design
Located in London, GB
Mid-Century Modern wool hand tufted pile rug is like an abstract expressive painting of circular overlapping swirls of changing colors, Europe circa 1950. The ingenious color variati...
Wool
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.
Silk
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.
Silk