Tapio Wirkkala is an outstanding iittala designer whose art glass and glassware sets virtually created the look and content of iittala design. Wirkkala’s oeuvre is vast, and between the 1940s and 1980s he designed more than 400 different art glass objects and glassware series for iittala. Many of the art glass pieces and glassware sets have been skillfully remodeled in line with the changing technological advances.
Wirkkala studied ornamental sculpting at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, and objects designed by him often are very sculptural. Tapio Wirkkala came to iittala as a designer in 1946 after taking first place in a competition for engraved glass models held by the glassworks. Wirkkala’s glass design was exceptional throughout his career as a designer. Of note are his Ultima Thule and Tapio glassware lines, which are still produced by iittala today.
Source: Iittala: 125 Years of Finnish Glass
Shop for products designed by Tapio Wirkkala:
