Oiva Toikka

Born in 1931 in Viipurin maalaiskunta, the rural municipality surrounding then-Finnish Vyborg, now part of Russia. He grew up on a farm and was influenced by the rich history of the area.

Oiva Toikka was famous for his designs of glassware for the Finnish design company Iittala. Trained initially in ceramics at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, he later turned to glass design.
In addition to his glass designs, Toikka is best known for his designs for Iittala's Birds by Toikka series.
From 1972 until his death in 2019, Toikka created more than 400 birds in mouth-blown glass. Although Toikka originally worked at the Nuutajärvi glassworks in Urjala, his designs are currently produced at the Iittala glassworks in Hämeenlinna.
Toikka's awards include the Lunning Prize in 1970, the Finnish State Prize for Crafts and Design in 1975, the Pro Finlandia Medal in 1980, the Kaj Franck Prize for Design in 1992, the Finlandia Prize in 2000, and the Prins Eugen Medal in 200.

He died in 2019