Leppäinen, who ruffles his feathers, has no lack of attitude.

Oiva Toikka created each Birds by Toikka glass bird in close cooperation with glassblowers, first at the Nuutajärvi glass factory and later at the Iittala glass factory. A real bird inspires each of these birds, but they embody Toikka's inexhaustible imagination and artistic approach to glass.

Professor Oiva Toikka is one of the greatest names in Finnish glass art. His iconic collection of Birds by Toikka first took flight back in 1972 at the Nuutajärvi glass factory with the creation of his small glass Flycatchers. Since then hundreds of new birds have joined the flock.

Toikka's birds embody Iittala's commitment to craftsmanship and imagination, deviating from the streamlined aesthetic of Scandinavian design in imaginative, rich and bold ways, earning international praise. Each design incorporates new color combinations and techniques for one-of-a-kind beauty that is collected by people of refined taste worldwide. The collection embodies a rich fusion of glassmaking traditions and would not have been possible without Toikka's hands-on-approach at the glassworks and his keen understanding of each employee's skills. Today, each glass bird is handcrafted and mouth blown at the Iittala Glass Factory.