Wirkkala was often inspired by nature. His work is characterized by its wide scope and exceptional craftsmanship, and he has in fact been compared to the master craftsmen of the past.
Wirkkala drew a great deal, but he also wanted to study personally the various stages of making objects, such as glassblowing: "I always try to be involved in the whole working process in which the object achieves its final shape".
The majority of the approximately 100 lamps Wirkkala designed for serial production were conceived between 1959 and 1961. The earliest, however, is the Triennale light from 1951. The conical piece is a turn-moulded opalescent glass pendant, which was originally made for the Finnish Pavilion at the Milan Triennale.
Tapio Wirkkala (1915 - 1985) was born in Hankoo, Finland. Tapio Wirkkala is a symbolic figure of Finnish design, an artist of great diversity for whom no material was alien and who left no area of design unexplored. He was one of the most distinguished artists to shape Scandinavian design and industrial art.
Tapio Wirkkala was a very productive and multitalented designer and sculptor. His work ranges from exceptional creations of art glass to industrial design in the form of beer bottles and banknotes. Wirkkala also designed jewellery, sculptures and furniture.Tapio Wirkkala was awarded in several prestigious competitions. Worth mentioning is at least the three Grand Prix medals from the Milan Triennale in 1954 and one Grand Prix medal and a gold medal in the 1960 Milan Triennale.