Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Finnish, 1915-1985
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.
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Creator: Tapio Wirkkala
Unusual Pair Danish Modern Candlesticks by Tapio Wirkkala . Original Purple
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Pair Danish Modern Candlesticks by Tapio Wirkkala . Original paint , finish / patina,, Retains original label. Great color and form.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Tapio Wirkkala Glass Tray Model 3369-3869 by Iittala in Finland
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare glass tray model 3369-3869 designed by Tapio Wirkkala. Produced by Iittala in Finland. Signed and dated TAPIO WIRKKALA IITTALA -58.
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
21st Century Piatto Di Tapio Plate in Aquamarine/Grey by Tapio Wirkkala
By Venini, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in murano, IT
Tapio Wirkkala pays homage to his beloved land: thanks to the "Incalmo" technique, he turns glass into water and ice, shaping it from joyful memories, special moments and the nature ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Finland circa 1970 glass with bubbles bowl.
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Tapio Wirkkala finland blue and green glass circa 1970 bowl with bubbles.
Category
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Handmade Bowls
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Munich, DE
beautiful hand made on order bowls by tapio wirkkala for kultakeskus oy. bowls are stamped with makers maker and in good condition.
located in hamburg.
Category
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
$3,000 / set
Tapio Wirkkala, Rare "Piatto di tiapo", 1970
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Paris, FR
Tapio Wirkkala
Very rare 'Piatto di tiapo' Plate, c. 1970
Venini, glass, cream and blue. Unique Exemplar.
Signed : Venini and Wirkkala
Measure: D : 49.5 cm (19.27")
Overall very...
Category
1970s Finnish Post-Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Candle Holders
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a renowned Finnish designer and sculptor known for his contributions to the world of design, particularly in glass and ceramic works.
Tapio Wirkkala ...
Category
1970s Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Bronze
$2,831 / set
Tapio Wirkkala, "Pavoni", 1989
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Paris, FR
Tapio Wirkkala
'Pavoni' Vase, c. 1989
Execution: Venini, blown glass, red and cream.
Signed: Venini murano, incised signature. (Picture 3 & 4)
H : 20 cm (7.9")
Overall Very goo...
Category
1990s Finnish Post-Modern Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Modernist Bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy, 1960s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Kultakeskus Oy
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An impeccably crafted sculptural small bowl having a bold asymmetrical form and rendered in warmly patinated copper.
Category
1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper
Tapio Wirkkala Glass Vase Produced by Iittala in Finland
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare glass vase designed by Tapio Wirkkala. Produced by Iittala in Finland.
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Clear Art Glass Vase with Engraved Decoration, 1957
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in København, Copenhagen
Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala.
Clear art glass vase with engraved decoration in the form of stripes.
Signed Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala, 1957.
Finnish design.
Measures: 22 cm. x 4 cm.
In p...
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Tapio Wirkkala "Iceberg" Vase 3825
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
The iconic "Iceberg" vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Finland.
This vase is an incredibly heavy still-mould blown solid crystal piece.
Created by the Finnish master to resemb...
Category
1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal
XL Paper Bag Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1977
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Paper or plastic or…Wirkkala’s fun and whimsical 1977 Pop Art take on tromp l’oeil, something that is not what it appears to be. Here, a used paper bag ...
Category
1970s German Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Red Vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini, 1990s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
This exquisite red Murano glass vase is a stunning creation by the renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala for the prestigious Italian glassmaker Venini. Crafted in the 1990s, it em...
Category
1990s Italian Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Tapio Wirkkala
s TW 476 Bowl in Bronze
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A terrific handmade Bronze bowl for Kultakeskus Oy.
These bowls are custom ordered and hand hammered to shape. An exceptional piece.
Executed in 1974.
Category
1970s Finnish Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Vase from the Coreani series by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini
By Venini, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Torino, IT
Vase from the Coreani series designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini.
Elegant collectible blown glass vase with blue and green bands that create a spiral with overlapping colors and s...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
$2,284 Sale Price
20% Off
Tapio Wirkkala for Littala 1970
s Centerpiece
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Parma, IT
Crystal centerpiece designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala 1970s.
Central part with "ice" effect.
In excellent conditions.
Category
1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Blown Glass Coreani Vase Designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Stamford, CT
A Tapio Wirkkala blown glass Coreani vase produced by Venini. Etched Venini Italia 83 T.W. to underside.
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Blown Glass
Tapio Wirkkala, Pair of "Korean" Centers for Venini, Murano Glass, 1966
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Brussels, BE
For the measurements of the small vase it's: Diameter 13cm and Height 20cm
Tapio Wirkkala, Pair of "Korean" Centers for Venini, Murano Glass, 1966
Born in Hanko, Finland, in 1915,...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Tapio Wirkkala red Vase
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a renowned Finnish designer and sculptor known for his contributions to the world of design, particularly in glass and ceramic works.
Tapio Wirkkala ...
Category
1990s Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Blown Glass
$3,093
21st Century Bolle Vase in Amber Yellow/Apple Green/Violet by Tapio Wirkkala
By Venini, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in murano, IT
A vase turns into a bottle for Tapio Wirkkala. Apple Green, Yellow and Purple. Three distinct spaces of colour that blend together thanks to the "Incalmo" technique, a process by whi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Vase Designed by Tapio Wirkkala, Finland, 1957
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase designed by Tapio Wirkkala,
Sweden, 1957.
Sterling silver.
Dimensions:
H: 24 cm/ 9 3/8"
W: 9 cm/ 3 1/2"
D: 4 cm/ 1 1/2"
Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) can be described as one of the icons of Finnish design and a symbol of the international success of post-war Finnish design. Tapio Wirkkala studied sculpture at the Helsinki Central School of Industrial Design from 1933 until 1936, but he was also a self-studied artist in many areas, including glass design. His success as a glass artist began in 1946 when he designed one of his most famous works, the Kantarelli vase, for Iittala. Wirkkala gained worldwide success in 1951 at the Milan Triennial, where he received three Grand Prix awards: for the exhibition architecture, glass design and wooden sculptures. Tapio Wirkkala felt a deep relationship with nature and his absolute favourite spot was located in Finland's deepest forests. From the beautiful landscape, Tapio Wirkkala could find inspiration for his works, often characterised by organic shapes. Leaves, birds, ice and water are recurring themes in his design.
Tapio Wirkkala was also a furniture designer and a sculptor. He started his career as a sculptor in the 1930s but abandoned the traditional sculpture in the post-war years – in the early 1950s, alongside with other works, he started to develop an entirely new relationship with sculpture and a new technique to be used. The result was a series of unique plywood sculptures which combined form and movement in the vibrant, densely lineated surface of plywood. Wirkkala’s sculptures represented exceptional abstractism and gave Finnish sculpture...
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver
Modernist Medallion by Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare two-sided medallion in copper having abstracted and geometric decoration, housed in a rosewood and copper presentation case.
Category
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Bronze
Tapio Wirkkala Bronze Bowl TW491
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A very nice and rather large solid bronze bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy, ca. 1974
Sculpted and hand turned with applied bronze feet.
Stamped to bottom .
Category
1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Finnish Tapio Wirkkala glass vase
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Finnish Glass Vase by Tapio Wirkkala
This Finnish glass vase, designed by Tapio Wirkkala, features a translucent olive green color. Its design is characterized by a wide, domed base ...
Category
20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Tapio Wirkkala Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Tapio Wirkkala decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Tapio Wirkkala decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Tapio Wirkkala decorative objects, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 146 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 15 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original decorative objects by Tapio Wirkkala were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Timo Sarpaneva, Kaj Franck, and Alvar Aalto. Prices for Tapio Wirkkala decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $57 and can go as high as $29,650, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,800.
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