Milestones

DIED. Tapio Wirkkala, 69, Finland's foremost designer in glass, ceramics, wood and metal, and a pioneer of the elegant, functional Scandinavian look; of a heart attack; in Esbo, Finland. Combining a hands-on knowledge of industrial production techniques, a sculptor's sensibility and a craftsman's intimate familiarity with his media, he was, in the view of many critics, the pre- eminent modern maker of such objects as vases, cutlery and glassware (including the distinctive frosted Finlandia vodka bottle).