Circa 1955 Tapio Wirkkala With Iittala Mid-Century Modern Blue Purple and Gray Frosted Glass Vase

Details

Description

Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a multitalented design genius, widely considered a leading figure of modern Finnish industrial art. Wirkkala's wide … Read more Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a multitalented design genius, widely considered a leading figure of modern Finnish industrial art. Wirkkala's wide ranging portfolio spans from glass, furniture and product design to sculpture, city planning, art, graphics and even creating banknotes for the Finnish treasury. Throughout his incredibly productive career, Wirkkala received numerous awards including three gold medals at the Milan Triennale, the Lunning Prize, Pro Finlandia Medal and the Prince Eugen Medal.

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. Throughout his legendary career, the uniquely talented artist created more than four hundred glass objects for Iittala, many of which, like the Ultima Thule and Tapio series remain popular today. (Text from Iittala's website.)

Tapio Wirkkala Finnish, b. 1915
Cylindrical Vase, Circa 1955
Iittala, Finland
Frosted glass in blue, purple, and gray
Height 8" (20 cm) Width 4 1/4" (11 cm)
Weight: 6 lb. 117 ounces
Signed: Engraved "Wirkkala -3894"
Condition: The object is substantial (note its weight above), which can impact its handling and its relationship to surfaces. Its condition is consistent with age and use. Some scratches on end surfaces. A few minor inclusions and one more visible than others (the most prominent one is featured in the first photograph for transparency). Scratches are more pronounced on the dark violet end, which is considered the bottom of the work based on the placement of the signature. While it is challenging to photograph reflective surfaces, please inspect the photographs. Some glass collectors do not like inclusions, but I find minor ones interesting, almost like birth marks. It might be worth noting that the main inclusions are not visible from key angles. Actually, the smaller ones are difficult to notice overall. The frosted-style surface renders many aspects obscured and atmospheric.
Provenance: Purchased from Freeforms LLC, Upper Nyack, NY.
Note: The object's colors appears much brighter with natural light behind it. Please examine all of the photography because the color shifts significantly. While light alters appearances in general, this object's changes are a bit more significantly than most; it might be partially related to the frosted effect achieved by the designer. See less