Toikka birds on display outside Finland

[bani]

Is there any permanent display of Toikka birds outside Finland?

[bob]

None that we know of.  Each year the Tacoma Museum of Glass puts on a small display of birds in October for the "Bird Lover's Weekend" event co-sponsored by Iittala, but that is the only display we know of other than at the factory.  There may be one in Europe somewhere, but we have never heard of one.

[nokikana]

According to the recent book, "Oiva Toikka - 50 Vuotta Oivalluksia" (Oiva Toikka 50 Years of Insight), Designmuseo 2010, Oiva Toikka work (all his art forms, not only birds) can be found in the following collections:

Teoksia Kokoelmissa
The Corning Museum of Glass, New York
Designmuseo, Helsinki
Dusseldorf Kunstmuseum, Dusseldorf
Helsingin kaupungin taidemuseo, Helsinki
Hokkaido Museum of Moderm Art, Sapporo
Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, Coburg
Leerdam Museum, Amsterdam
Museum fur Kunst und Gwerbe, Hampuri
The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Nationalmuseum Tukholma
Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Trondheim
Sara Hildenin taidemuseo, Helsinki
Suomen kansallismuseo, Helsinki
Suomen Lasimuseo, Riihimaki
Tampereen kaupungin taidekokoelmat, Tampere
Valtion taidemuseo, Helsinki
Valtion taidekokoelmat
Victoria & Albert Museum, Lontoo
Yksityiskokoelmat

Julkiset taideteokset
Elaketurvakeskus, Helsinki
Hotelli Hilton, Helsinki Strand, Helsinki
Loistoristeilija Royal Princess
Loistoristeilija  Viking Star
Philips Oy Ab, Espoo
Pohjoismaiden Investointipankki, Helsinki
Shell Oy, Vantaa
Sokos Hotelli Presidentti, Helsinki

Excuse my translation to English which follows:
Works in collections
 The Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, New York, USA
 Design Museum, Helsinki
 Kunstmuseum Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
 Helsinki City Art Museum, Helsinki
 Hokkaido Museum of Moderm Art, Sapporo, Japan
 Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, Coburg, Germany
 Leerdam Museum, Amsterdam (sic) (in Leerdam, Holland I think.)
 Museum fur Kunst und Gwerbe, Hamburg, Germany
 The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York, USA
 National Museum in Stockholm, Sweden
 Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Trondheim, Norway
 Sara Hilden Art Museum, Helsinki
 National Museum of Finland, Helsinki
 Finnish Glass Museum, Riihimaki
 Tampere city's art collections, Tampere, Finland
 National Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
 National Art Collections
 Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Great Britain
 Private Collections

 Public art
 Central Pension Security Institute, Helsinki, Finland
 Hotel Hilton Helsinki Strand, Helsinki
 Luxury liner, the Princess Royal
 Luxury liner, the Viking Star
 Philips Oy Ab, Espoo, Finland
 Nordic Investment Bank, Helsinki
 Shell Ltd, Vantaa, Finland
 Sokos Hotel President, Helsinki

And of course the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, USA is another collection.
Of course we must be grateful to have the best "virtual" exhibit of Birds byToikka, here at http://bn-collection.com.
Thanks Bob!

   If you visit any of the museums above, please provide us a brief review of the exhibit.  Thanks.
- Nokikana

[bani]

Thank you very much for listing all the museums and collections.
The National Glass Museum in Leerdam does not have any birds on display. This may change in near future as there exist two "Leerdam birds" now.
We visited the Designmuseo in Helsinki during the Toikka's exhibition - thus I do not know whether they display some birds permanently.
According to its website the Corning Museum owns two gorgeous Kiikkuris (expecially the green one is amazing) - perhaps someone from this forum will have an opportunity to check if they are exhibited.
Thank you again and I look forward to seeing further inspiring ideas here. And a big thanks to Bob for this website.

[nokikana]

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.

[nokikana]

   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. 

[nokikana]

   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.

[Birdbrain]

   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.

[nokikana]

   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.