Iittala Ultima Thule 56oz Serving Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala

About the Item

Tapio Wirkkala was considered the pioneer of modern Finnish industrial art. Internationally recognized for his glass designs, Wirkkala’s greatest inspiration always came from his native Finland. Wirkkala defied the rules of glassblowing with his iconic Ultima Thule collection. Inspired by ice and snow, Wirkkala spent nearly a thousand hours with the glassblowers at the Iittala Glass Factory, to recreate this unique slice of Nordic nature. Featuring a rounded base supported by three ice peaks that float above the surface, the groundbreaking Ultima Thule brings a piece of arctic nature into any interior. The Ultima Thule bowl creates a striking impact on any table setting. Perfect for cold dishes like salad or dessert. Designer: Tapio Wirkkala Manufacturer: Iittala Year: 1960s Style: Mid-Century Modern / Scandinavian Dimensions: 3.5'' tall x 7.9" diameter.

Creator:
Iittala (Manufacturer),Tapio Wirkkala (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Diameter: 7.9 in (20.07 cm)
Style:
Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Glass
Place of Origin:
Finland
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1960s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Excellent vintage condition.
Seller Location:
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU6584228929322

Shop All Tapio Wirkkala

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.

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