Glass Industry: Tapio Wirkkala , Gianni Toso, and Henry Halem

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In the vast world of glass, three artists have made a great impact on the way we see the medium as an art form. These three artists, Tapio Wirkkala , Gianni Toso, and Henry Halem have helped to pioneer new methods and ideas in this complex industry.

Tapio Wirkkala was a highly versatile Finnish artist born in 1915. His work ranges from glassware and metalwork, to jewelry and furniture for mass production. During his career, he was artistic director of the University of Arts and Design in Helsinki for many years.He is known quite famously for his work in the Finnish glassworks company, Ittala. A number of his glass pieces feature icicle-like forms, which reportedly took thousands of hours for Wirkkala to develop a technique to master this effect. These forms mimic the essence of the ice formations found in his native country. Stylistically, Wirkkala’s work tends to veer to the geometric side of the spectrum. His vessels create a sense of space that can only be captured through the use of those geometric shapes and strange angles. Private collectors who donate the pieces to museums an...

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