Early Tapio Wirkkala "Winter Journey" Tall White Porcelain Vase
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 9.75 in (24.77 cm)Diameter: 5.35 in (13.59 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1980
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Bainbridge, NY
- Reference Number:
Tapio Wirkkala
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
While the Rosenthal Porcelain Factory grew from humble decorating roots — as many pottery companies do — it eventually built a list of universally revered designer and artist partners that included Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. And after securing an enviable position as a top manufacturer of serveware and dominating the porcelain and bone china markets, Rosenthal expanded into furniture production, working with influential designers Verner Panton, Luigi Colani and Günther Ferdinand Ris and Herbert Selldorf.
German-born Jewish businessman Philipp Rosenthal founded the company in 1879 in Bavaria. It began as his modest workshop where he painted porcelain and encountered success with porcelain ashtrays. Rosenthal hired the best designers and clay modelers he could find. Adolf Oppel designed figurative Art Nouveau pieces, while Eleonore (Lore) Friedrich-Gronau produced decorative objects, namely her graceful porcelain dancer figurines, for the company.
Dinnerware, though, would be a Rosenthal mainstay. Between 1904 and 1910, Rosenthal produced its renowned dinnerware lines such as Donatello, Darmstadt and Isolde. These were introduced as unornamented white pieces — only later were they given their underglaze designs.
Rosenthal founder Philipp, a Catholic of Jewish ancestry, resigned in 1934 as the company’s president due to pressures owing to discriminatory German laws that took shape during the rise of the Nazi regime. Rosenthal died in 1937, and the family fled to America. The company would not regain its footing until 1950 when Rosenthal’s son, Philip, joined the firm and, in 1958, became chairman and dubbed Germany’s “China King.” At its peak, the company had 10,000 employees.
In the 1950s, Rosenthal’s modernist dinnerware was a significant part of the brand’s offerings, and by 1961 they introduced the famed Rosenthal Studio Line. Although furniture designers and ceramicists would lead the list of individuals working with Rosenthal — among them Tapio Wirkkala, Max Weber and Lisa Larson — the company eventually reached out to fine artists, not only Dalí and Warhol but Sandro Chia and Kenny Scharf. Rosenthal also collaborated with fashion designers Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace.
In a daring move in 1972, the company diversified into furniture, collaborating with some of the giants of mid-century modern design. The revolutionary Sunball chair, an icon of Space Age seating crafted by Selldorf and Ris, was among Rosenthal’s stellar successes in this venture.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Rosenthal ceramics, porcelain, tableware, seating and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Bainbridge, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Tapio Wirkkala for Asko "Rhythmic" Coffee Table, 1950sBy Asko, Tapio WirkkalaLocated in Bainbridge, NYTapio Wirkkala Asko Finland birch and exotic wood veneer coffee table, circa 1958. Featuring a squared multi layered wood surface, supported by four chrome-plated steel legs and bras...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsBrass, Steel
- Tapio Wirkkala Hanging Teak Lamp with Red Vistosi Glass Shade, 1950sBy Tapio Wirkkala, VistosiLocated in Bainbridge, NYScandinavian Modern Tapio Wirkkala Teak hanging pendant with red glass Vistosi shade. Featuring a suspended turned teak rod supporting a rounded, angular Tomato Red glass Vistosi sha...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsGlass, Teak
- Tall Scheurich Keramik Cream & Cocoa Fat Lava Vase, 1970'sBy Scheurich KeramikLocated in Bainbridge, NYWest German Scheurich Keramik Terraceous Glazed Fat Lava Vase, 1970s. Featuring a hand crafted, wide, balanced ceramic pottery vase form, smooth reflective Creamy White fat lava org...Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Tall Peter Voulkos Style Art Pottery Pedestal Vase Planter, circa 1970By Peter VoulkosLocated in Bainbridge, NYHandcrafted Art Studio Stoneware Jardinière. Vase, Planter, Candlestick, Sculpture in the manner of Peter Voulkos. Featuring a versatile natural earthen thrown textured tower pedesta...Category
Late 20th Century American Vases
MaterialsClay
- Dino Martens Mezza Filigrana Pink, White & Rose Gold Murano Vase, 1950'sBy Aureliano Toso, Dino MartensLocated in Bainbridge, NYDino Martens for Aureliano Toso Pink, White & Copper Murano Glass Vase. Featuring a large, clear hand blown pear shaped vase form with flared top, Pink, White and shimmering Rose Gol...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Carl Sorensen Bronze Trumpet Vase, 1920'sBy Carl SorensenLocated in Bainbridge, NYTall Art Deco Bronze Trumpet Vase by Philadelphia metalsmith and Tiffany designer Carl Sorensen. Featuring a handcrafted vase form, polished GOld toned ...Category
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- German Porcelain Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1980sBy Tapio Wirkkala, RosenthalLocated in Bochum, NRWA tall, ovoid shaped white porcelain vase designed in 1970 by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line ‘Drops’ pattern as the tactile design on its exterior has raised dots, like rai...Category
Vintage 1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Tapio Wirkkala Rosenthal Studio Line Matte White VaseBy Rosenthal, Tapio WirkkalaLocated in Ferndale, MITall cylinder shaped white porcelain vase with flared opening . Designed 1970 by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line . Tactile ‘Drops’ designed on its exterior . Matte finish ex...Category
Vintage 1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- ROSENTHAL - Tapio Wirkkala - Porcelain 'Paper Bag' Vase - Germany - Circa 1977By Tapio Wirkkala, RosenthalLocated in Chatham, ONROSENTHAL (Manufacturer, 1879-Present) - TAPIO WIRKKALA (Designer, 1915-1985) - Mid Century pop art porcelain 'paper bag' vase (part of Rosenthal's Studio Line) - featuring a matte f...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Tapio Wirkkala Pollo Vase for Rosenthal Studio LineBy Tapio Wirkkala, RosenthalLocated in San Francisco, CATapio Wirkkala design Pollo vase for Rosenthal Studio Line, Germany. Rare larger size vase or vessel seldom seen compared with the much smaller common model. A wonderful object or v...Category
Vintage 1970s German Scandinavian Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Porcelain Wide Mouth Vase, Western Germany, 1960sBy Tapio Wirkkala, RosenthalLocated in Bochum, NRWTapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Germany Wide mouthed vase in white porcelain, ribbed rim, hand painted with fine thin gold lines. Very good used conditi...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Large Mid-Century Modern Glass Vase by Tapio WirkkalaBy Tapio Wirkkala, RosenthalLocated in Brooklyn, NYImpressive, statuesque glass vase by Finnish designer, Tapio Wirkkala, for Rosenthal Studio-Line of Germany. Composed of thick glass sculpted to look like ice. Largest example manufa...Category
Vintage 1960s German Scandinavian Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass