Leo Tykkyläinen

Leo Tykkyläinen (1919–1984) was a Finnish ceramic artist who became known for his small Moomin figurines in the 1950s. Before his career in ceramics, he worked as a painter, but after the war he shifted to ceramics and founded his own workshop in Maunula, Helsinki. He shaped and painted each figure by hand, even though they were produced in larger series. Tykkyläinen collaborated with the department store Stockmann, and between 1956 and 1963 his figurines gained great popularity. In 1964, he moved on to more industrial production in the service of Arabia Factory. Today, his creations are highly valued collectors’ items and represent a significant phase in Finnish ceramics and design.