Who is Tapio Wirkkala?
Tapio Veli Ilmari Wirkkala (2 June 1915 – 19 May 1985) was a Finnish designer and sculptor, a major figure of post-war design. Wirkkala was born in Hanko in 1915.
What is Wirkkala famous for?
In the early 1950s, Wirkkala worked as the artistic director at the Helsinki Central School of Industrial Design. Among his most famous work have been the designs for the Finlandia vodka bottle (1970-1999) and for Iittala’s Ultima Thule set of kitchen glasses.
Who is the father of the famous artist Wirkkala?
Wirkkala was born in Hanko in 1915. He attended the Töölö co-educational school in Helsinki. His father, Ilmari Wirkkala, was a cemetery architect, and mother Selma (née Vanhatalo) a wood-carver. His sister Helena Korvenkontio and brother Tauno Wirkkala were also artists.
What did Walter Wirkkala do for glass?
Wirkkala’s work ranges from designs of plastic ketchup bottles and metalware to glass, ceramics and plywood in a range of styles. His success as a glass designer began in 1946 when he designed the Kantarelli vase for Iittala, and the mass-produced Tapio collection was launched in 1954.
One of the great Scandinavian Modernist designers, Tapio Wirkkala’s influence was felt far afield, and he worked in nearly every medium from glass to wood, and metal to paper. He was driven by a deep love for Finnish flora and fauna, and the natural landscape that contains it.
How much does Tapio Wirkkala tableware cost?
Pieces from Tapio Wirkkala’s most commercially successful design, the Ultima Thule tableware range, designed in 1968, can be had from around £20 upwards each brand new, depending on shape.
What is Tapio Wirkkala’s curving line?
Looking across Tapio Wirkkala’s enormously varied body of work, there is one common thread: his feeling for a curving line. The curve may mark out the form of a silver candleholder or earring, it may be the laminated layers of a wooden dish, or the grain on a table, or it may be the cut lines on a glass vase.
How did Wirkkala contribute to the history of Iittala?
In 1946, Wirkkala won his first design award in a competition sponsored by Iittala that would mark a lifelong relationship with lasting effects on his career and the company. As Iittala’s artistic director, Wirkkala’s unique artistic vision helped establish the company’s global reputation.