Iittala’s Virva table lamp’s mouth-blown shade has lovely fluted surface that creates a beautiful reflection when the light is on. Designer Matti Klenell drew inspiration for the lamp from Iittala’s extensive archive of glass products; he was particularly fascinated by different textured surfaces of old glass designs. To create just the right texture, the Virva lamp has been blown into a carved mold with each line carved by hand, one by one. Horizontal on one side and V-shaped on the other, the fluted surface gives the lamp a beautifully sculptural appearance even when turned off.
Virva is also inspired by Nordic folklore: the name is a reference to the Finnish word ”virvatuli”, meaning Will-o’-the-wisp in English. In Nordic folklore, Will-o’-the-wisps are phantom lights seen floating over swamps and other uninhabited areas, thought to be spirits misleading travelers in the dark by carrying a lantern. Will-o’-the-wisps can also be seen as a symbol of hope, as in some stories they are told to mark the location of a secret treasure buried by fairies.
