Topic: Tapio Wirkkala vase - help with range/date

[Pip]

Hubby bought this from a charity shop the other day and it wasn't until he got home that he discovered, underneath the significant base wear, that it was signed Tapio Wirkkala - it can only just be made out through all the base scratches, it's very hard to see but is there.

Can anyone offer more info, what range it was from etc?

TIA (apologies for the dustiness - it needs a clean!)

*click images to enlarge*
(http://i35.servimg.com/u/f35/11/95/11/14/th/pictur45.jpg)

(http://i35.servimg.com/u/f35/11/95/11/14/th/pictur46.jpg)

(http://i35.servimg.com/u/f35/11/95/11/14/th/pictur47.jpg)

[robbo]

Hi Pip,

These are shown in the Iittala 125 book but unnamed, just described as "Vase 3581".
Available in blue or lilac, in 13, 16 and 20cm heights.
Production dates given are 1960-1970.

Robbo

[Pip]

Rob - thanks very much that's just what I wanted to know. 
BTW, are you at Dulwich next month?

[robbo]

I surely am 

[Baked_Beans]

Sorry to drag this thread back up from 2008 but I found it whilst reseaching this vase.
It's 20 cm tall. The signature reads Tapio Wirkkala- 3581. I guess as it is a production piece it is the factory, Iittala, just inscribing the name of the designer and pattern number on the base and isn't Tapio's own signature. The reason I ask this is that there is one listed on ebay at a large price, at the moment, and I cant understand why if they were in production for 10 years ! Cheers Mike.

[glassobsessed]

Ah, but will it sell at that price? Selling rather than asking prices may be of more interest.

That seller has a lot of glass, some of it at quite high prices. I have also seen them offer large discounts - I think another GMB member bought a vase from them that was reduced in price and they are very happy with it.

John

[Baked_Beans]

Thanks John,

I'm watching it with interest  :pb:. Were all Iittala pieces signed in this way do you know ?

[px]

Some Iittala pieces have a factory signature, many don't. Some of the unsigned are seconds, many seem to be flawless.
So it is known that there are fake signatures around made in these.

Nobody seems to know why and when and which were actually factory signed?

Sometimes the signature is just "TW" for Tapio Wirkkala or "TS" for Timo Sarpaneva.

[Baked_Beans]

Thanks very much px for the information. It's very interesting.

I think my example may well be a second. The thickness of the glass around the rim varies from 7mm to 4mm . The signature seems to have been written over the scratching and ware to the base , but this is a difficult one to detect. So I do now think that this signature is false.

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers, Mike

[Baked_Beans]

I thought I would add this set of photos ....might help others who collect this design.

 The first clearly shows the variation in the thickness of the rim. I'm pretty sure this piece would be classed as a second. The other photos are close up shots of the signature and I think they show that it has been inscribed over the ware and scratching to the base. At first sight , however,  it looks the other way around as if the scratching is over the signature.

 This is the first suspect piece of glass I have seen  Cheers, Mike.