Ultima Thule textured glass bowl designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Finland, 1970s.
An icon of Scandinavian design, this vintage Ultima Thule bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala captures the spirit of the North through its evocative, ice-like texture. Originally designed in the 1960s and produced throughout the 1970s, the piece reflects Wirkkala’s fascination with Finland’s arctic nature — evoking melting ice and frozen lakes.
Crafted in pressed glass and resting on three delicate feet, the bowl transforms light into a sculptural experience. Both functional and poetic, it blurs the boundaries between object and landscape. A timeless piece of design history — perfect for contemporary table settings, collectible displays, or as an artwork.
Works from the Ultima Thule series are part of major museum collections, including MoMA NY and the Victoria & Albert Museum, England.
OBJECT SPECIFICATIONS
PRODUCT: Ultima Thule textured glass bowl
DESIGNER: Tapio Wirkkala
MANUFACTURER: Iittala
ORIGIN: Finland
PERIOD: 1970s
MATERIAL & TECHNIQUE: Pressed glass
COLOR: Clear
TEXTURE: Melting ice-like relief, signature of the Ultima Thule series
CONDITION: Exceptional condition — unused
DIMENSIONS: (+-) Diameter: 15 cm; Height: 11 cm
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 Ultima Thule series, 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.