Liisa Vitali (1918-1987)

In the 1960s there was a strong trend towards brave modernistic jewelry design in Finland. It had started with the avantgardes of the early 1950s. Contrasting the other, parallel folkloristic trend, this radical modernism contributed to the movement of Scandinavian jewelry design. Designers like Saara Hopea, Börje Rajalin, Tapio Wirkkala, Pentti Sarpaneva and Björn Weckström drew the worlds attention to the new Finnish jewelry.

‘Ladybird’, silver ring
‘Balls and Plates’ series
1969.

Liisa Vitali was one of the young designers following up this trend. She worked for one of the leading Finnish jewelry producers, Westerback Oy, closely related with the company Kultakeskus where the jewelry production was incorporated in 1975. Liisa Vitali, Tapio Wirkkala and Nanny Still were the main designers of the company in the 1960s. Other well known designers that have worked with Kultakeskus are Timo Sarpaneva, Eero Rislakki, Karl Laine and Bertel Gardberg.