Not currently on display at the V&A

Capercaillie

Figure
2000 (designed), 2004 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of five blown and tooled glass birds by Oiva Toikka acquired directly as a gift from Iittala Oy Ab, the parent company of the Nuutajärvi Glass factory, in 2004. A long-tailed duck designed in 1981 was already in the Collections. These attractive and richly-coloured birds, along with the many other bird designs produced, are collectively by far the most successful designs in the history of the Nuutajärvi glassworks and the range is regularly expanded. Being handmade, each bird is unique and all are signed by the artist. Prof. Oiva Toikka (born 1931) is an internationally renowned glass artist who has won numerous awards. He has worked at Nuutajärvi as a designer and maker since 1963 and his birds have been in constant production since 1972.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleCapercaillie (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Hand-blown and tooled glass
Brief description
Figure, blown glass bird, 'Capercaillie', designed and first made 2000, by Oiva Toikka at Nuutajärvi Glassworks, Iittala Oy Ab, Finland. This one made ca. 2004.
Physical description
Glass bird figure representing a Capercaillie or male Wood Grouse ('Metso' in Finnish). It has a red head and yellow beak and its body is brown and green with lustre scalloped pattern to indicate feathers. The lustre looks metallic blue at certain angles.
Dimensions
  • Approx. height: 18cm
  • Approx. length: 27.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'O. Toikka Nuutajärvi' (Signed)
  • 'i iittala' (on adhered label)
Credit line
Gift of Iittala Group Oy Ab
Object history
One of five glass birds by Oiva Toikka acquired directly as a gift from Iittala Oy Ab, the parent company of the Nuutajärvi Glass factory in 2004. Until then, the Museum only had one Toikka bird, C.60-2004, a long-tailed duck.

Historical significance: Prof. Oiva Toikka (born 1931) is an internationally renowned glass artist who has won numerous awards. He has worked at Nuutajärvi as a designer and maker since 1963 and his well-known, richly-coloured birds have been in constant production since 1972. Being handmade, each bird is unique and Toikka signs them all. Collectively, they form his best-known work and they are by far the most successful designs in the history of the Nuutajärvi glassworks. New designs are constantly added to the repertoire.
Subject depicted
Summary
This is one of five blown and tooled glass birds by Oiva Toikka acquired directly as a gift from Iittala Oy Ab, the parent company of the Nuutajärvi Glass factory, in 2004. A long-tailed duck designed in 1981 was already in the Collections. These attractive and richly-coloured birds, along with the many other bird designs produced, are collectively by far the most successful designs in the history of the Nuutajärvi glassworks and the range is regularly expanded. Being handmade, each bird is unique and all are signed by the artist. Prof. Oiva Toikka (born 1931) is an internationally renowned glass artist who has won numerous awards. He has worked at Nuutajärvi as a designer and maker since 1963 and his birds have been in constant production since 1972.
Bibliographic references
  • Iinnut, Toikan. Birds by Toikka 1972-2009. Helsinki : Iittala, 2008. 62 p.
  • Dawson, Jack. Oiva Toikka Glass and Design. Helsinki : Werner Soderstrom, 2007.
Collection
Accession number
C.12-2009

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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