Tapio Wirkkala

Tapio Veli Ilmari Wirkkala was born on June 2, 1915, in Hanko. Trained in decorative sculpture at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki, he spent long periods living in total solitude in the wilderness of Lapland, studying snow drifts, running water, and melting ice.

Wirkkala was a virtuoso across glass, wood, porcelain, metal, and plastic. In 1946, he won the Iittala glass competition with his iconic Kantarelli (Chanterelle) vase. He hand-carved the wooden molds for his legendary Ultima Thule glassware series (1968), capturing the texture of melting spring ice. He won three Grand Prix awards at the Milan Triennale in 1951 and 1954 and designed Finland's post-war markka banknotes.