5 Vintage Modernist Finland Scandinavian Tapio Wirkkala Ultima Thule Glasses

Vintage Modernist Finland Scandinavian Tapio Wirkkala Ultima Thule set of 5 Whiskey glasses circa 1968. Famous melting ice design 3.5'' Tall Designed by Tapio Wirkkala [http://www.wirkkala.fi/e_wirkkala/tw_2.html]in 1968 for the Finnish Iittala company, the form of the glasses was intended to represent the dripping and refreezing ice drops from the glacial landscapes of Finland. The name Ultima Thule is in fact a latin phrase and was historically used to describe a distant place that was beyond the borders of the known world The technique for making these beautiful objects is called the ice glass technique, and Wirkkala himself was involved in developing and perfecting it over a period of many years. The rough surface structure characteristic of this technique are achieved by blowing the glass into a wooden mould, and as I understand it, the skill is to know when to stop blowing as the colours and patterns change as the hot glass burns the wooden surface of the mould as it begins to cool. The Ultima Thule range encompasses glasses, jugs and bowls and in all variations, there are only three small drops of glass that touch the table, a very nice touch I suspect we will be getting more of these glasses, which I for one would be very happy about