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THE CURIOUS MIND OF OIVA TOIKKA

Iittala Birds by Toika mouthblown glass birds
The story of the birds cannot be told without first briefly telling the story of the artist behind them.

Oiva Toikka (1931-2019) is a beloved designer and artist responsible for creating some of Iittala’s most iconic collections. He is famous for his limitless imagination, playful designs and vibrant colours. Throughout his career, Toikka deviated from the streamlined functionalism that characterised Nordic design in favour of colourful, artistic creations often inspired by nature.

He began his career as a designer at Nuutajärvi glassworks (later incorporated into Iittala) in 1963. From the outset, his creations for everyday glassware became celebrated successes, including Kastehelmi (1964), Flora (1966), Fauna (1970), and Pioni (1975), among many others.


“I’m not looking for perfection, I want it to be fun.”

– Oiva Toikka
Iittala Birds by Toika mouthblown glass birds

“I trust in accidents and misunderstandings.” ​ – Oiva Toikka ​

At the glassworks, artists enjoyed the freedom to explore art glass through open experimentation, and Toikka worked with remarkable productivity, creating vibrant, one-of-a-kind pieces that pushed creative boundaries. Starting in the late 50´s, his artistic career encompasses a 60-year period. The last collection of unique glass art objects with Iittala (Icon I - VII) he launched in 2018.​

​ The glass bird collection as we know it today grew out of this creative spirit. Although Toikka did not invent the idea of a glass bird, he made it unmistakably his own—so distinctively that it became the most celebrated and recognizable expression of his glass art.​

​ Now, more than fifty years later, the collection is known around the world. At least over 600 different birds have been created, and a strong, enthusiastic community of collectors and admirers has grown—from Finland to every corner of the globe. ​

​ Iittala’s Birds by Toikka have become a phenomenon.
Iittala Birds by Toika mouthblown glass birds

EARLY BIRDS – Flycatchers & Kiikkuri​

The first birds took flight in 1972 with the creation of small glass Flycatchers. True to Toikka’s style, the birds appeared in a variety of colours, with or without a foot. In 1975, the large and technically demanding Kiikkuri bird was introduced, produced in the following years in both a standing version with a foot and a resting version without one.


“Glass is perfect for birds – and birds are perfect for glass.” – Oiva Toikka

Iittala Birds by Toika mouthblown glass birds

BIRDS BY TOIKKA​

The collection began to expand around the early 1980s. Crow, Willow Grouse, Alli, Pheasant, and Kiiruna led the way for an increasing number of new species in a variety of shapes and sizes, experimenting with new decorative techniques. Some birds were inspired by real-life species, while others were purely imaginative, with whimsical names. Soon the birds became favourite gifts, collectables and interior statement objects.​

​ In 1994, the collection was named Birds by Toikka as it began to establish itself as a distinct series, with a greater focus also on international markets.​

​ In 1996, the tradition of creating an annual bird and egg—a limited edition released for that year only—was launched. These pieces have since become popular gifts for any occasion, commemorating special events such as weddings or retirements, or milestones like graduations and anniversaries.​

​ In 2014, production at Nuutajärvi glass factory (village in Southern Finland) was transferred to the Iittala glass factory in Iittala, where the glassblowers continued working.

Arrange birds or other glass art objects as part of your interior décor and create captivating displays by combining them with your other favourite pieces. They look beautiful placed on top of stacks of books, on a windowsill, a dresser, or a kitchen counter. ​

​ Objects that reflect your personality and style bring a distinctive touch to your home and help complete the look of every room.
Iittala Birds by Toika mouthblown glass birds

Craftsmanship

All of Toikka’s birds are handmade and mouth-blown at the Iittala glass factory in Finland. It is craftsmanship that gives each bird its soul.​

​ Creating a single bird requires precision, expert skill, and the combined effort of several glassblowers over multiple stages of the process.​

​ From filigree stripes and ribbons to spots, bubbles, feather-like details, and varied colourings, every feature reflects centuries-old glassmaking techniques. The eyes of the owls, in particular, give each bird its unique expression.​​

​ No two birds are alike; each has its own character. Just as we are shaped by our individuality, so too are the birds, each with a personality all its own.​
Iittala Birds by Toika mouthblown glass birds

The legacy continues​

Iittala keeps the legacy alive by reintroducing birds from its vast archives together with Professor Toikka’s family and the glass factory. Some reimagined in new colours and sizes, while staying true to the designer’s original design and palette.​

​ Through the birds, Iittala carries centuries-old glassblowing techniques forward for future generations. Each glass bird is handcrafted and mouthblown at the Iittala Glass Factory in Finland.
Iittala Designer Oiva Toikka

OIVA TOIKKA

Legendary Finnish designer Oiva Toikka (1931-2019) was an artist, designer and professor. Born in Vyborg, Finland in 1931, Toikka studied at the Helsinki School of Art and Design from 1953-1960. ​

​ He began his professional career at the Arabia Art Department in the 1950s. This led to another Finnish legend, Kaj Franck, appointing Toikka as the in-house designer at the Nuutajärvi (later Iittala) Glass Factory in 1963. During his profound career, Toikka designed many popular collections of glassware including Kastehelmi, Frutta and Flora. He also created the famous Birds by Toikka collection as well as unique art works of which some of the most recognisable are art pieces like Bamboos, Pom Pom’s, the colourful Lollipops and the glass cube objects.​

​ Toikka’s numerous awards and honours include the Pro Finlandia Medal (1980), the Kaj Franck Award (1992), the Suomi Award (2000) and the Prince Eugen Medal (2001). His incredible designs are featured in the permanent collections of the world’s most prestigious museums.