A jubilee exhibition showcases the Finnish artist’s work, including what has been voted the world’s most beautiful glass object.
Timo Sarpaneva (1926–2006) was one of the biggest names in Finnish glass art and design.
BUBBLE – Captured in Glass, at the Finnish Glass Museum, celebrates the 100th anniversary of his birth. It brings together works from private collections as well as several museums.
Sarpaneva’s works were created in close collaboration with skilled glassblowers. They were produced both at the Iittala glass factory in Finland and on the island of Murano in Italy.
For Iittala, Sarpaneva designed a wide range of both art and everyday objects. He also created the company’s i-logo set inside the red sphere.
His breakthrough onto the international stage came at the 1954 Milan Triennial. His Orchid sculpture, made of clear glass, gained global fame after House Beautiful magazine named it the world’s most beautiful object.
The Orchid represented a new kind of sculptural glass design.
Sarpaneva developed a technique of introducing air bubbles into art glass by steam-forming them with a damp wooden stick. At auction, the glass sculpture has fetched prices of over 20,000 euros.
The exhibition runs at the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimäki until 31 December.
