HELENA TYNELL｜1918–2016｜FINLAND
Helena Tynell was a Finnish designer. She studied design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki, and while still a student worked part-time as a draughtsperson at Taito. After graduating, she began working at Arabia’s Art Department, but at the same time continued her work at Taito—partly at the urging of Paavo Tynell, whom she would later marry—dividing her time between the two: mornings at Taito and afternoons making ceramic works at Arabia.
After leaving Arabia in 1946, she became increasingly interested in glass through her visits to Riihimäen Lasi in connection with her work for Taito, and that same year began her career there as a glass designer.
At Riihimäen Lasi, she became one of the company’s leading designers, remaining there until 1976. Her work ranged from finely engraved pieces made in collaboration with Teodor Käppi, one of Finland’s most accomplished engravers, to colorful utilitarian glass and art glass produced through a wide variety of techniques.
From 1961 onward, she also worked for the German company Bega-Limburg, where she designed lighting, art glass, and even catalogue graphics, making a major contribution to the company’s design identity until 1993.
Her work was widely recognized both in Finland and abroad. In 1967 and 1968, she received the German Die gute Industrieform prize, and in 1983 she was awarded the Finnish State Artist’s Pension.
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