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Tapio Wirkkala – Outokumpu Medals, Silver and Bronze

Name: Tapio Wirkkala – Outokumpu Medals, Silver and Bronze
Brand: Tapio Wirkkala
Price: 1199.41 CHF
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (18 reviews)

About the Item

Tapio Wirkkala – Outokumpu Medals, Silver and Bronze Two modernist medals designed by the renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala. Crafted in silver 925 and bronze, these pieces were created in connection with Outokumpu’s mining and industrial legacy. The medals showcase Wirkkala’s distinctive modernist aesthetic, combining abstract form, nature–industry symbolism, and refined relief work. A rare and collectible set especially as a pair. Designer: Tapio Wirkkala Material: Silver 925 and bronze Year: Silver medal dated 1976 Condition: Good Includes original cases made of rosewood, copper, and acrylic covers Silver versions of these medals are particularly hard to find and considered rare collectibles. Weight of the silver: 161.3g Tapio Wirkkala – Master of Finnish Design Tapio Wirkkala 1915–1985 was one of Finland’s most renowned designers and artists, whose influence spanned across glass, wood, metal, porcelain, and graphic design. He is considered a central figure in Finnish modernism, and his works have been exhibited internationally. Wirkkala rose to international prominence at the 1951 Milan Triennale, where he was awarded the Grand Prix. He gained particular acclaim for his glass designs for Iittala and the iconic Finlandia vodka bottle, both of which became symbols of Finnish design excellence. His famous Ultima Thule glassware series remains a timeless classic, inspired by melting ice and the rugged beauty of northern nature. Although Wirkkala is best known for his work with glass, his talent extended to many other areas. He designed banknotes for the Bank of Finland, knives (notably for Marttiini), sculptural wooden objects, and silver jewelry. His work was characterized by respect for natural forms, clean lines, and meticulous craftsmanship. He worked across both artistic and industrial realms, creating unique pieces as well as products for mass production. Tapio Wirkkala’s design philosophy was uncompromising yet accessible. He built a bridge between the Finnish natural landscape and international design in a way that continues to resonate decades later. During his career, he received numerous accolades, including the Pro Finlandia Medal (1951) and the honorary title of Professor 1972. Wirkkala’s legacy lives on—his objects are treasured collectibles, and his approach to design continues to inspire new generations. He did not simply design objects; he interpreted Finnish identity and the beauty of nature in a truly unique and enduring way.

Creator:

Tapio Wirkkala

Metal:

Silver,Bronze

Dimensions:

Width: 2.25 in (57 mm)

Sold As:

Set of 2

Style:

Modernist

Place of Origin:

Finland

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1976

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Orimattila, FI

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU2119226010872

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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