Oiva Toikka

I think the glass birds made by Oiva Toikka are my favourite glass objects. If I could afford them I would have a modest collection of them. They're reasonably expensive and older 'deleted' designs are highly collectable.

Oiva Toikka (born 1931) is a Finnish glass designer. Born in Karelia, he is renowned for his designs for glassware for Iittala the Finnish design company. Originally trained in ceramics, he took up glass design later in life. Along with his designs for glassware, Toikka is most known since 1973 for his designs for the Iitala glass birds series. Toikka's designs are executed at the glass factory at Nuutajarvi.

Toikka, though known for his glass designs, has also enjoyed success in a number of area creative outlets. He has worked as a stage and costume designer, generally working with Finnish director Lisbeth Landefort although in recent years, he has also been associated with productions by the Finnish National Opera. Through the years, he has also contributed textile designs to the Marimekko collections from time to time.