Revolutionary Finnish designer Oiva Toikka (1931-2019) first launched his world-renowned glass birds in 1972, and ever since, design and glass enthusiasts have flocked to own this handheld art. The Toikka bird collection truly encapsulates the beauty of nature and wildlife, as many pieces are based on true bird species flying the skies of Finland and beyond. The unique characteristics and imaginative design of each bird coupled with creator Oiva Toikka’s expertise in glassmaking has truly made this collection one to be treasured. Glass as an art medium has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the last decade, and themes of ornithology and bird species provide an amazing palette for both the artist, glassblower and consumer.

The creation of these glass birds come from the original artist’s mission to communicate with his audience and push the boundaries of accepted design. Birds by Toikka has successfully fulfilled this mission by departing from mainstream Nordic design and telling stories through glass to consumers world-wide. The first pieces to be included in the Birds by Toikka collection were the Sieppo (Flycatchers) and Kiikkuri birds, launched by Nuutajärvi, the oldest glass village in Finland. These birds, and those to follow, quickly attracted attention and a loyal following. It wasn’t long before Toikka birds became popular corporate gifts and collectibles, and Oiva Toikka began to design annual birds every single year starting in 1996. The range’s namesake that is seen today, “Birds by Toikka,” originated at this same time, receiving a collection of their own and furthering the profile of these impressive birds.

Each and every bird is designed by the original creator, Oiva Toikka, before being sent off to iittala’s glassblowers at the Iittala Glass Factory. These master glassblowers then create these collectible works of art by hand, working closely with Toikka himself up until his passing, making each iittala Toikka bird unique from one another. The birds are finished off with the artist’s name being signed on the base of each piece to ensure authenticity and remind us of its special origin. Designs range from annual editions and limited editions to special editions and more recently glass eggs. From production to the hands of the collectors, the Toikka glass birds look stunning as a centerpiece or as stand-alone decorative art in offices and living rooms with their vivid color and enchanting poise, and make meaningful gifts to friends and family. However, these glass pieces look extra beautiful perching on the edge of a window sill, showcasing the impressive glasswork, texturing and coloring that shines when the sunlight hits the birds. Today, Oiva Toikka has created over 500 different variations of glass blown birds since 1972, each one unique and still handcrafted and mouth-blown at Iittala’s Glass Factory. He carried on designing these acclaimed birds up until his death in 2019, and the Birds by Toikka collection remains his most well-known line of design. From the older Flycatcher and Western Meadowlark to the more recent Mediator Dove and Blue Bird, each and every piece of glass art has a beauty yet to be recreated. Collecting the unique and colorful Toikka glass birds has become an international activity and passion of art enthusiasts, bird lovers, and Finnish design fans around the globe, making each bird a treasured keepsake to be cherished by generations.