Celebrated glassmaker Timo Sarpaneva was a pioneer of Finnish postwar design. He led the formation of the utilitarian and artistic side of mid-century modern style. Sarpaneva’s glass vases, serveware and table lamps have a sculptural yet functional quality, making them adaptable for both decorative and utilitarian use.
Sarpaneva was born in 1926 in Helsinki and spent his childhood visiting his grandparents in the countryside. There, he was influenced by a barter economy where everything was made by hand and traded for services and wares.
In 1948, Sarpaneva graduated from the Institute for Industrial Arts in Helsinki (now the University of Art and Design Helsinki). He participated in the 1951 Triennale di Milano, submitting an embroidered coffee cozy that confused but delighted the judges and garnered a silver medal.
Around this time, Sarpaneva began experimenting with glassblowing. He transformed the traditional wet-stick method by creating a bubble within the molten glass, allowing him to work from the inside out. In 1954, he returned to the Triennale di Milano and won his first Grand Prize.
In the 1950s, Sarpaneva was hired at the glassware company Iittala, where he became a leading glass designer. Sarpaneva even designed the company logo, which is still used today. He worked for the company for over four decades until his death in 2006 at 79.
Sarpaneva’s illustrious career earned international recognition. His honors included being named Honorary Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts in London in 1963. He received honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Art in London in 1967 and the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1993.
In 2018, the Helsinki Design Museum exhibited a retrospective of “the golden boy of Finland’s Golden Age of design”.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Timo Sarpaneva decorative objects, serveware, lighting and more.
1960s Strombergshyttan Sweden Art Glass Purple Bowl
By Strombergshyttan
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1960s Strombergshyttan Sweden Purple Sommerso Double Art Glass 2 tall x 5.13 x 5.13 Bowl Ashtray or Catch all Dish. Retains original l...
Art Glass, Sommerso
$1,053
H 5.91 in Dm 10.24 in
Set of 3 purple Royal Copenhagen glass bowls Provence by Per Lütken Denmark
By Royal Copenhagen, Per Lütken
Located in Krefeld, DE
Set of 3 hand-blown light purple glass bowls designed by Per Lütken and manufactured by Royal Copenhagen in Denmark. Size: diameter 28cm & height 15cm / d.18cm & h.10cm / d.14cm & h...
Glass, Opaline Glass
$1,302
H 2.6 in W 4.73 in D 4.65 in
Flavio Poli Seguso Murano Lime Green Purple White Sommerso Geode Art Glass Bowl
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Barcelona, ES
Green, White and Purple 5 layered Murano Glass Sommerso Geode Bowl, Italy, 1960s. Hand blown Murano Sommerso square shaped geode bowl in green color with interior in purple and layer...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Opaline Glass
$843
H 2.5 in W 5.5 in D 5.25 in
Vintage Murano Glass Bowl By Alessandro Mandruzzato, 70's Emerald Green, Purple
By Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage Italian Murano glass faceted square bowl has jewel tone colors of luscious emerald green and the purple center. The sides are semi faceted paddled and the 4 corners are an angled. Great as is as a beautiful Italian Murano glass object...
Blown Glass
$443 / set
H 5.12 in Dm 9.45 in
Green Palet Snack and Salat Bowl by Michael Bang for Holmegaard, 1970s
By Michael Bang
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A matching set of Palet bowls in cased green Opaline glass. Designed by Michael Bang for Holmegaard, circa 1970. The set are hand blown and features the characteristic folded collars.
Blown Glass
Selena Glass Bowl by Sven Palmqvist for Orrefors, 1950s, Set of 4
By Orrefors, Sven Palmquist
Located in KUTNO, PL
The “Selena” glass bowl is an exceptional example of Scandinavian functional glass artistry, designed by Sven Palmqvist for the legendary Swedish glassworks Orrefors. It is an object...
Glass, Art Glass
Purple Two-Tone Art Glass Bowl, Minimalist Design, Ideal for a Winter Gift.
Located in Bochum, NRW
An authentic glass bowl by Steninge Slot, a celebrated Swedish manufacturer known for its refined craftsmanship. Featuring its original maker’s label, this piece is a testament to ti...
Art Glass
Mid-Century Glass Bowl from Orrefors, Sweden, 1960s
By Orrefors
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Glass Bowl from Orrefors, Sweden, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark Additional information: Materials: Glass Color...
Glass
$461
H 2.76 in Dm 4.06 in
Organic Murano Glass "Purple" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ashtray was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy...
Murano Glass
Signed Italian Modern Glass Bowl, Two-Tone Green, 12\
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Post-War Design round glass bowl with 2 tones of green (signed and dated 2005 on bottom)
Glass
