Tapio Wirkkala at Venini

The latest installment in Skira's superb glass series explores the Finnish designer's work for Venini

This substantial overview explores Finnish designer and sculptor Tapio Wirkkala (1915-85) and his output for the famous Murano glass company Venini. Creator of the Finlandia vodka bottle and designer for companies such as Ittala, Wirkkala's activities with Venini represented a transitional phase in his versatile career and had a profound influence on the Murano glassmaking industry. Most famous of his works for Venini are his particolored bottles: clean, simple forms distinguished by seamless transitions in solid color. This was achieved with the incalmo technique, an ancient glassblowing method promoted by Wirkkala. He often combined this with the mezzafiligrana and murrine techniques for which Murano glass is famed.
The latest in Skira's essential series on Italian glassmaking, Tapio Wirkkala at Venini covers all of Wirkkala's Venini output in more than 500 color images and detailed descriptions of his work.