Timo Sarpaneva

Timo Sarpaneva (1926–2006) was a painter, graphic artist and designer who, since the 1950s, was one of the leading exponents of Scandinavian handicrafts. In addition to functional design, he was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of glass as a sculptural medium, unfettered by the restrictions of functional design. When designing the compact, organic Suomi design in 1976, Sarpaneva was inspired by the round, smooth pebbles found on Finland’s coasts. »Suomi« has been added to the permanent collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris as an example of contemporary design.