Tapio Wirkkala Velvet Art Glass Vase "Jäkälä" model 3516, Iittala 1950s Finland

A beautiful art glass vase model 3516, designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Iittala in Finland in the 1950s. In the manufacturing process the glass is blown into a special mould and acidified to complete the beautiful velvet impression. This design was featured in the 9th annual Milano Triennale in 1951, where Tapio Wirkkala won three Grand Prix awards. The vase is signed "Tapio Wirkkala - Iittala".

Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a genius designer and sculptor who was recognized as a leading figure in Finnish arts and crafts in the "golden era" of 1950s-1960s after the wars. Sometimes even compared to Da Vinci, his incredible understanding of geometry resulted in some truly amazing pieces which you can't compare to any other designer's work. He used a number of different materials in his designs including glass, wood, plywood, silver and ceramics, and always had a very unique and distinct approach to his designs. Wirkkala has been awarded a great number of Triennale awards, gold medals and special recognitions, and is internationally acclaimed.