Set of 4 Niva whisky glasses by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Finland, 1970s.
PRODUCT: Set of 4 Niva whisky old-fashioned glasses
DESIGN: Tapio Wirkkala
ORIGIN: Finland
PERIOD: 1970s
CONDITION: Excellent condition — object unused
MATERIAL: Glass
COLOR: Clear
TEXTURE: Texture of water in motion / melting ice-like relief, signature of the Niva series
DIMENSIONS: (±) Ø 8.5 cm; Height 9.5 cm
An icon of Finnish glass design. A set of four Niva glasses, defined by a textured surface inspired by flowing water — “niva” referring to a rapid stream formed by melting snow.
Tapio Wirkkala
A pioneer of 20th-century design, Tapio Wirkkala (1915–1985) transformed everyday objects into lasting icons. No other designer captured the northern landscape as a material experience quite like him. His glassworks — carved like wind over snow, melting into glacial textures — seem to hold breath rather than boast.
With Wirkkala, glass forgets its transparency. It thickens, fractures, freezes — like a lake caught in the moment before thaw. His glass objects, designed for the Finnish company Iittala, does not imitate nature — it distills it. Every ripple, bubble, and edge recalls glacial forms not as decoration, but as memory in solid state.
Today, Wirkkala’s textured glass pieces are highly prized by collectors and design lovers worldwide. They represent a perfect synthesis of art, design, and nature, influencing generations of glassmakers. His works serve not only as functional tableware or decorative objects but also as timeless art pieces embodying the spirit of Scandinavian and Nordic modernism.