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.
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Flatware, Extensive 91 Piece Set
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Atlanta, GA
Modernist stainless steel flatware set, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Austria, circa 1963. This is a large set containing 91 pieces total. They are constructed of dishwas...
Stainless Steel
$2,246 / set
H 0.99 in W 2.17 in D 10.63 in
“Focus de Luxe” Flatware Set by Folke Arström for Gense, Sweden, 1950s
By Folke Arstrom, Gense
Located in Knivsta, SE
“Focus de Luxe” Flatware Set by Folke Arström for Gense, Sweden, 1950s A rare and iconic 63-piece “Focus de Luxe” flatware set, designed in 1956 by celebrated Swedish designer Folk...
Stainless Steel
$200 / set
H 7.88 in Dm 0.79 in
Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen. Strata cutlery set for 3 persons. 1970s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, Strata cutlery set for 3 persons. Set comprising three dinner knives, three dinner forks, and three table spoons in stainless steel with brown handle...
Stainless Steel
$3,250 / set
H 8.5 in W 0.5 in D 0.25 in
Modernist "Odin" Flatware by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, 72 Pieces
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large set of "Odin" pattern stainless steel flatware, designed by Jens Quistgaard in Denmark and produced in Germany for Dansk, circa 1960s. This is a complete six-piece set for 12 p...
Stainless Steel
$2,700 / set
H 9 in W 1 in D 1 in
Helmut Alder Amboss Austria 2070 Flatware Cutlery for Six Persons, 1960s
By Alder Design, Amboss Austria, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful vintage modernist flatware from Austria, model 2070, designed by Helmut Alder in 1959 and produced by Neuzeughammer Ambosswerk in the 1960s. The manufacturer also produced ...
Stainless Steel
$1,950 / set
H 7 in W 1 in D 0.25 in
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Austria "Composition S" by Rostfrei Satin 40 Piece
By Rostfrei Solinger, Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Tapio Wirkkala Rostfrei Solingen "Composition S" for Rosenthal made in Austria 40 Piece Satin Stainless Steel Flatware Set. Service for 8 plus a storage box. Presents like it was n...
Stainless Steel
Tjorn Sterling Silverware by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, Germany
Located in New York, NY
A set of sterling silverware in the Tjorn pattern designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Priced per five-piece place setting. Up to 12 (twel...
Sterling Silver
$8,111 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Constanze by Wilkens German 800 Silver Flatware Set Service 64 Pieces Modern
By John Wilkins
Located in Big Bend, WI
Constanze By Wilkens German 800 Silver Flatware set with modern unadorned design - 64 pieces. This set includes: 12 Knives, 7 7/8" 12 Forks, 7 - 7...
Sterling Silver
$2,160 / set
H 9 in W 1 in D 1 in
Helmut Alder Amboss Austria 2070 Flatware Cutlery for Six Persons, 1960s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Alder Design, Amboss Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful vintage modernist flatware from Austria, model 2070, designed by Helmut Alder in 1959 and produced by Neuzeughammer Ambosswerk in the 1960s. The manufacturer also produced ...
Stainless Steel
$1,871 / set
H 1.19 in W 1.97 in D 9.85 in
3 Gio Ponti mid-century cutlery sets for 6, Arthur Krupp, 42 pieces each, 3 sets
By Gio Ponti, Arthur Krupp
Located in London, Fitzrovia
2 sets for 6 are still available 42 silver plated pieces in each set! so all together, a rare large Arthur Krupp set, designed by Gio Ponti as are all the Arthur Krupp silver plated tureens, tea and coffee sets etc... from the Belfiore. these would make a huge 84 pieces set for 12 settings. each of the 2 sets includes: 6 large knifes, 6 large forks and 6 large spoons. 6 small knifes...
Silver Plate
Free-Form Earthenware Tableware, Magic, MBFA Pornic, France c. 1960
By M. F. B. A. Pornic
Located in St Ouen, FR
Very complete set in satin-glazed earthenware hand-painted with broad random strokes in elegant grisaille. M.B.F.A, literally "Manufacture Bretonne de Faïences Artistiques", was cre...
Earthenware
Ulla Procope Ruska Dinnerware Set, 83 Pieces, Arabia, Finland, 1961
By Ulla Procope
Located in St Ouen, FR
A great 83-piece collection of Arabia’s iconic Ruska line. Designed by Ulla Procope in 1961, Ruska is probably Arabia’s most beloved dinnerware line, for its timeless shapes, earthy ...
Stoneware
Set of Dishes Liekki, Ulla Procope for Arabia, Finland c. 1960
By Ulla Procope
Located in St Ouen, FR
Stoneware set from the Liekki range in a beautiful variation of deep browns with a slightly pearly appearance which earned its creator, Ulla Procope, an honorary diploma at the 11th ...
Stoneware
Ceramic Dessert Set, Saint-Clement, France c. 1950
By Saint-Clément
Located in St Ouen, FR
Saint Clement is one of the oldest French royal earthenware factories. Supplying the court , the factory is at the origin of the scalloped edge of its pieces, known as the "Louis XV ...
Earthenware
Coffee Set For 6 Guests, Raymond Loewy & Richard Latham, Rosenthal
By Raymond Loewy, Richard Latham, Rosenthal
Located in St Ouen, FR
Timeless elegance both of shape and pattern for this modernist line created in 1954 by Raymond Loewy and Richard Latham for the prestigious German manufacture. The particularly moder...
Porcelain
Set of Ten Plates, Suzanne Ramié for Madoura, Vallauris c. 1950
By Madoura
Located in St Ouen, FR
Extremely rare set of ten plates with generous shape, fretworked sides and white glazes. Atelier Madoura is inseparable from the ceramic work of Pablo Picasso and its founder Suzann...
Ceramic
