Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was born in Hankoo, Finland. Tapio is a symbolic figure of Finnish design, an artist of great diversity for whom no material was alien and who left no area of design unexplored. He was one of the most distinguished artists to shape Scandinavian design and industrial art. His work ranges from exceptional creations of art glass to industrial design in the form of beer bottles and banknotes. Wirkkala also designed jewellery, sculptures and furniture.