17 February – 20 May 2012

Erkkitapio Siiroinen - A Young Promising Name at the Riihimäki Glassworks

Erkkitapio Siiroinen (1944–1996) began his work with glass as a factory clerk in the spring of 1963 at the Riihimäki glassworks. Almost since its founding in 1910, the Riihimäki glassworks was the largest glass factory in the Nordic countries and remained so well into the 1960s. Its output ranged from art glass to window glass, and from household glass to bottles and jars. There was not a home in Finland that did not have Riihimäki products.

In the autumn of 1963, Siiroinen began his studies in industrial design at the Department of Metal Art of the Institute of Industrial Art in Helsinki. Alongside his studies, Siiroinen began to design for the Riihimäki glassworks. Erkkitapio Siiroinen’s work had a philosophical background, which included an enthusiastic and thorough study of the possibilities of mass production.

The blowing facility for household and art glass was closed on 30 November 1976. Siiroinen was only 32 years old, but his career was practically over. His best-known designs include Barokki, Sesi, Kasperi, Jesperi, Old King Cole and Pub for Riihimäen Lasi Oy, and Legenda, designed in 1977 for the newly founded Studiolasi Oy.

Press photos: http://www.suomenlasimuseonystavat.fi/SLMpress/

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The material is available for use only in connection with exhibitions and information issued by the museum.

The Finnish Glass Museum, Tehtaankatu 23, FI 11910 Riihimäki, is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm (February-December), Information about the entrance fees and services: + 358 (0)19-758 4108, www.finnishglassmuseum.fi, glass.museum(at)riihimaki.fi

For more information:

Uta Laurén, exhibitions, uta.lauren(at)riihimaki.fi, tel +358 19 758 4101 or +358 40 330 4104

Kaisa Koivisto, curator, kaisa.koivisto(at)riihimaki.fi, tel +358 19 758 4101 or +358 40 330 4101