Tapio Wirkkala, a multifaceted design genius who lived from 1915 to 1985, is widely regarded as a key figure in contemporary Finnish industrial art. In addition to making banknotes for the Finnish treasury, Wirkkala’s diverse portfolio also includes sculpture, city planning, art, furniture, and product design. Throughout his immensely successful career, Wirkkala won various honors, including the Lunning Prize, Pro Finlandia Medal, and Prince Eugen Medal, as well as three gold prizes at the Milan Triennale.
In a competition sponsored by Iittala, Wirkkala won his first design prize in 1946, beginning a partnership that would last his whole career and have a significant impact on the business. Iittala’s international reputation was shaped by Wirkkala’s distinctive aesthetic vision while he served as the company’s artistic director. Over the course of his illustrious career, the extraordinarily gifted artist produced more than 400 glass items for Iittala, many of which, like the Ultima Thule and Tapio series, are still in high demand today.