Tapio Wirkkala and Finnish design – a name and a concept that are integral to the progressive developments that the countries of Northern Europe introduced in applied art in the 1950s. Tapio Wirkkala’s distinctive approach to design combined the seemingly incompatible: the austerity of modernist Functionalism and the dynamic principles of organic form. This resulted in a style characterised by simplicity and clean lines, utility and practicality, a sensitivity to nature and a respect for the material.

 

This exhibition gives an overview of the three main fields Wirkkala worked in between 1946 and 1985. Glass is represented by his numerous designs for tableware and decorative glass for the famous Iittala glassworks. His originality in silverwork, a typical aspect of Scandinavian design, is evident in a broad selection of his bowls, vases and

other items. Another part of the exhibition features the porcelain sets and sculptures that Tapio Wirkkala designed for the German porcelain maker Rosenthal. This exhibition has been organised by the Finnish Glass Museum (Suomen Lasimuseo) in Riihimäki. Most exhibits have been lent by Collection Kakkonen and other private collections.