Tapio Wirkkala (1915 - 1985) was born in the southern Finnish port city of Hanko.  His father was an artist and Wirkkala studied sculpture at the Central School of Applied Arts, specializing in woodwork.  From the late 1930s through his death, Tapio designed glassware using revolutionary methods and molds that created iconic designs throughout the 20th century that have won countless prestigious awards and are included in the permanent collections of museums worldwide.  While known for his tabletop and design objects in glass, Wirkkala also worked in different materials like wood and metal that included cutlery, lighting, and furniture