Timo Sarpaneva

Timo Sarpaneva worked as a designer at the Iittala art glass factory. He was celebrated as a sculptor and an industrial designer. Sarpaneva created numerous series of art glass and crystal pieces that became global classics.

In 1956 and 1957, he won the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale, along with many other prestigious international design awards. He was honored with Finland’s highest award, the Pro Finlandia Medal. He also held positions as a professor and honorary professor at the Royal College of Art in London and the Aalto University School of Design in Helsinki.

Art glass remained the designer’s favorite medium. Here’s what Sarpaneva told The New York Times in 1994: “Glass is always very mysterious. It keeps changing. And that’s what gives it its magic.”

In 2018, the Design Museum in Helsinki dedicated its main exhibition to Timo Sarpaneva.

His works are found in dozens of the most prestigious museums and galleries showcasing the finest glass and crystal of the 20th century: MoMA in New York, the British Museum, the Design Museum in Helsinki, and many others