Designed by Tapio Wirkkala, this silver commemorative sterling silver ashtray was created to mark 150 years of Tervakoski, one of Finland’s oldest mill communities. A central figure of postwar Finnish modernism, Wirkkala was known for his deep engagement with material, process, and place—an approach well suited to a commission honoring an industrial town shaped by paper, labor, and collective life (where locals refer to the mill property as "ours"). The ashtray reflects his belief that even the most modest utilitarian objects deserve intellectual rigor and sculptural clarity. Executed in silver with characteristic restraint, the form speaks quietly to continuity, craftsmanship, and the dignity of everyday use, aligning Wirkkala’s design ethos with the enduring cultural legacy of Tervakoski. Stunning! Approx 4.3" x .75" H
Tapio Wirkkala (1915 – 1985) was one of the most celebrated and multi-disciplinary designers of the 20th Century. From ketchup & vodka bottles to postage stamps, his iconic designs traversed mediums and improved the lives of all who live with his work. Like all good Finns, he was obsessed with nature - leaves, shells, spirals, ice - he had a way of transforming hard materials into soft and wonderful objects. To this day, his designs are amongst the most collectible as they are beautifully timeless & subtly bring a piece of nature into you home.
