Oiva Toikka

Oiva Toikka works both with ceramics, glass and scenography, but is probably most known for his work with the glasswords Nuutajärvi Notsjö and Iittala. Unlike typical Scandinavian design, Toikka’s designs are characterized by imagination, color and bold shapes. He has designed several popular vases and sculptures but is most known for his Birds by Toikka range of glass birds.

Birds by Toikka is a unique collection of mouth-blown glass b irds, all with their own unique expression and personality. The first bird was launched as early as 1972, a design that was followed with an additional 400 “species” since then. The glass birds are a popular collectable and a real design classic when speaking of Finnish design.

Apart from glass art, Toikka has designed tableware ranges that have become a staple in many Scandinavian homes. An example of this is Iittala’s Kastehelmi range. As many of Oiva Toikka’s designs, the Kastehelmi range was inspired by nature. The bubbly design was inspired by dew drops and the pieces are available in a whole host of colors. The glass “pearls” aren’t only beautiful, but also functional, as they hide the glass joint marks left by the manufacturing process.