i-106 TUMBLER (PURPLE GREY) 150ml

TIMO SARPANEVA｜1926-2006｜FINLAND

Timo Sarpaneva majored in graphic design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki.
After graduating in 1949, he won second prize in Riihimaen Lasi's glass design competition and was invited to be a glass designer, but negotiations broke down due to the humiliating offer of providing designs without compensation.
While exploring paths to become a glass designer, in 1950 he secured work for Ahlstrom, Iittala's parent company, designing exhibitions, shop windows, and graphics.
In the same year, he decided to leave Ahlstrom after receiving a request for glass design from Holmegaard in Denmark, but Ahlstrom proposed a path to become a glass designer for Iittala, a group company, and he changed his mind.
He began his career as a glass designer at Iittala in 1951.
His initial sophisticated and highly artistic art pieces won him the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale in 1954. He also won the Grand Prix in 1957 for the 'i-line', practical mouth-blown glass that he unveiled in 1956.
Together with his close friend Tapio Wirkkala, who had been an active designer at Iittala since 1946, he elevated Iittala to a leading brand representing Finland.
At Iittala, he also excelled in graphic design, creating posters, brochures, and packaging.
Notably, the logo he designed for 'i-line' later became the brand logo and was used as a symbol of Iittala for a long time.
He was active in a wide range of fields, including art glass, practical glass, ceramics, graphics, and textiles, and is one of the outstanding designers representing Finnish modern design.