Bird bottle and bowl pay tribute to visionary designer Timo Sarpaneva (1926-2006), one of Finland’s most celebrated glass artists.
Iittala reissues these iconic pieces, allowing new generations to experience Sarpaneva’s exceptional talent for combining sculptural beauty with functional design.
The Bird series demonstrates Sarpaneva’s mastery of organic forms and his ability to capture movement and grace in glass.
Each piece balances artistic expression with everyday usability, embodying Finnish design philosophy that beauty and function enhance each other.
Timo Sarpaneva revolutionized Finnish glass design through fearless experimentation with forms, techniques, and surface treatments. His work earned international recognition, helping establish Finland’s reputation for design excellence in post-war decades.
Iittala preserves Sarpaneva’s legacy by maintaining these designs in production, ensuring his vision continues influencing contemporary design culture. The Bird collection represents timeless Finnish design that transcends trends through enduring aesthetic and craft quality.
Timo Sarpaneva
Timo Sarpaneva (1926-2006) was an international force in Finnish design. A designer, sculptor and educator, Sarpaneva’s pioneering glass work merged art with utilitarian design. Besides glass, he also worked with textiles, wood, porcelain and metal. Sarpaneva’s unique industrial design that helped to pioneer Finland’s global design reputation. He has received much recognition throughout his illustrious career including the Lunning Prize and was twice awarded at the Milan Triennale. In 1976, Sarpaneva received the honorary title of Professor from the Finnish government. Throughout his long collaboration with Iittala, Sarpaneva was responsible for creating key hallmarks of the company’s style.
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