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   As part of the World Design Capitol Helsinki 2012 celebration, there will be an Oiva Toikka Exhibition at the famous Galerie Forsblom in downtown Helsinki - from May 12th to June 3rd, 2012. See the link below:

http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/ohjelma/2011-10-25/galerie-forsblom

   Perhaps you can see the exhibit, and then share your experience with us.

Thank you. 

   Saturday, March 17th we visited the Mingei International Museum to see the "Northern Stars" exhibit of 20th Century Design. It is a fabulous exhibit - furniture, textiles, ceramic, glass - and several Birds by Toikka. Several catalog birds were presented, but the highlights are 4 very special custom made kiikkuri, that were collected by Charmane Kaplan on her trips to Finland and Nuutajarvi. They have unique color combinations that I have never seen on other kiikkuri.
   I have posted 8 pictures of the exhibit on the User Albums section of this website. Log In, then enter User Albums. Select Nokikana, and then near the bottom select "Mingei International Museum" to see the pictures.  Included in the pictures are 3 additional custom kiikkuri that are displayed in the Museum Directors Office. 6 of the Kiikkuri are "footed", and one is "resting". This appears to be a "saved" bird, that suffered a broken foot, which was ground down to make a resting position.
   The Museum personel were very friendly and helpful. We greatly appreciated Martha E. who guided us around, and showed us the Director's office. Martha knew Charmane personally, and worked with her when she was a member of the Board of the Museum. If you have the opportunity to visit San Diego - put the Mingei Museum on your "must see" list - and ask to see the Birds by Toikka. Most of them roost in the Director's Office when not on display.

Thanks for sharing this Tom.  These are truly special pieces.

Hi Tom,

thanks for the comment ... I am aware of the Great Glass list: their representation of the Toikka sandblasted signature originates from my Penguin .

Best regards - Wolf

Hi Wolf -

    Thanks for the information on the blue on silver foil "Nuutajarvi 1703 - Wartsila Finland" label on your bird. According to Great Glass Listing , both the clear and silver foil version were used from 1977 until about 1993. Please click on the link to see the information. Your example would appear to be among the last "Birds by Toikka" to bear this label.  Thank you for the information.

Tom

   Saturday, March 17th we visited the Mingei International Museum to see the "Northern Stars" exhibit of 20th Century Design. It is a fabulous exhibit - furniture, textiles, ceramic, glass - and several Birds by Toikka. Several catalog birds were presented, but the highlights are 4 very special custom made kiikkuri, that were collected by Charmane Kaplan on her trips to Finland and Nuutajarvi. They have unique color combinations that I have never seen on other kiikkuri.
   I have posted 8 pictures of the exhibit on the User Albums section of this website. Log In, then enter User Albums. Select Nokikana, and then near the bottom select "Mingei International Museum" to see the pictures.  Included in the pictures are 3 additional custom kiikkuri that are displayed in the Museum Directors Office. 6 of the Kiikkuri are "footed", and one is "resting". This appears to be a "saved" bird, that suffered a broken foot, which was ground down to make a resting position.
   The Museum personel were very friendly and helpful. We greatly appreciated Martha E. who guided us around, and showed us the Director's office. Martha knew Charmane personally, and worked with her when she was a member of the Board of the Museum. If you have the opportunity to visit San Diego - put the Mingei Museum on your "must see" list - and ask to see the Birds by Toikka. Most of them roost in the Director's Office when not on display.

[another thread]

In another thread I have included an Alpenschneehuhn (Kiiruna) on the first image - a bird produced from 1991 to 1994 - carrying the "Nuutajärvi 1793, Wärtsilä Finland" label on silver foil - which therefore seems to have been used after 1987 as well.

Best regards - Wolf

Hello - let me briefly introduce myself first: my main glass interest are paperweights, especially Scottish ones. I do collect other glass as well, however, and this includes a few Toikka birds.

Attached are images of my "Schneehuhn" family. The smaller one in the middle is "Alpenschneehuhn": it is signed "Oiva Toikka, Nuutajärvi" and carries the "Nuutajärvi 1793, Wärtsilä Finland" label on silver foil, is of the correct size - no question about this one.

Then there are the two larger ones, both somewhat smaller than listed in the catalogues: 14.0cm> x 10.8cm^ instead of 15.7cm> x 12.2cm^. Whilst their shape and "outside design" is very similar, what strikes me, is the different "internal colour" seen at the heads (which themselves are clear) - one brownish, one blueish.

The blueish one is signed "Oiva Toikka, Nuutajärvi, Notsjö" (no label).

The brownish one doesn't seem to be signed (signatures are very difficult to see on this colour) and there is no label. I have no doubt, however, it is genuine as well: the entire "family" came from my mother-in-law, who was running a small glass boutique, and will have bought all of them directly from Iittala. Why would it be not signed - a trial piece - or just missed the signature (I own a couple of limited edition Caithness paperweights, which somehow missed the signature)?

Any comment, both on the size or the colouring would be appreciated.

Best regards - Wolf

   There is currently a display of Toikka birds at the Mingei International Museum in San Diego, California (in Balboa Park). http://www.mingei.org/    They are part of an exhibit entitled “NORTHERN STARS: Twentieth Century Finnish Design”. See: http://www.mingei.org/exhibitions/northern-stars    
 The exhibit opened January 29th and closes April 22nd , 2012.  The Mingei Int’l Museum was the recipient of the Toikka Bird Collection of Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan: http://www.mingei.org/join_support/kaplanestate    
 This collection includes several custom made Kiikkuri (footed and resting), as well as other birds. Bob and I had a chance to review some of the birds a few years ago, and found them to be exceptional. You may see a picture of some of them at: http://www.mingei.org/blog/seeing-through-glass-brightly
   If you have an opportunity to visit the Mingei International Museum, please look for the Toikka birds and then tell us about the exhibit. I hope to see them myself in March. 

An update on this topic.
I was successful at acquiring a Jänkätirri at last. It was located in a fleamarket in Finland. I find it a stunning bird. If you're interested, it is posted in the User Albums section (bottom of the Categories page). See: Nokikana -> Uncommon Birds and Eggs.
Try the link below if you are logged in.
http://bn-collection.com/v/user+albums/Nokikana/Uncommon+Birds/Jankatirri-2A.jpg.html 
Now the hunt for the Kulorastus. 

The National Glass Centre in Sunderland, England recently had an exhibition of Oiva Toikka birds - from November 10, 2010 to March 13, 2011. Was anyone so fortunate as to see this display? Do you have any comments on the collection?  Thank you.