Vintage set of 5 shot glasses from Gaissa (Gáissa" is the Sámi word for "mountain") series by renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala.
1970s, Iittala glassworks. Height is 5.1 cm, 4 cl. Excellent vintage condition.
Organic modernist design capturing essential nature patterns of Nordics in glass: ice, plants, stone, water. Such an authentic school of art glass design existed only in the second half of the 20th century in Nordic countries.
Why buy vintage glass by Tapio Wirkkala?
Tapio Wirkkala was one of the leader of product designers in Midcentury era. His signature glass series became icons of the Scandinavian style. Some, like Ultima Thule, are still in production today.
Tapio Wirkkala worked for a long time at the flagship art glass factory Iittala in Finland and also for Germany's Rosenthal. He created glass items, utensils, lamps, and jewelry.
He was a multiple winner of the Milan Triennial, received the highest award, the Pro Finlandia, and became an art academician.
Wirkkala's works are in the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), the Design Museum in Finland, the Glass Museum, and many other museums and galleries around the world. A city park in Helsinki is named after him.
