Vintage ARABIA tableware symbolizes Finnish tradition and beauty.
Among them, the most legendary piece that has just arrived is "Purpriyenka."
This is a very rare opportunity that comes around once every few years.
The Purprienka was only produced for one year, between 1969 and 1970, and is therefore considered a phantom work today.
Among the many Arabian products, the Purprijenka is by far the rarest, even more so than the so-called Violalogo Paratiisi and the rare masterpiece Coralli.
The name "Purprijenka" means "purple dance" in Finnish.
The colors and patterns on the cups evoke the image of graceful dance, captivating the viewer.
The design, based on a deep purple color, features intricate floral and leaf motifs arranged in a dancing manner, giving the entire teacup a sense of movement and life. It is as if a theatrical performance has been condensed into a small piece of tableware.
(Photo: Purple flowers and lush green leaves are painted in detail all over the piece.)
There are likely complex reasons why production of the Purprijenka was limited to a short period between 1969 and 1970.
During this period in particular, ARABIA produced numerous masterpieces thanks to the efforts of its highly skilled and experienced craftsmen.
However, a piece like the Purprijenka, which requires detailed painting, would have required more time and skill than other products.
(Photo: A painter at work at Arabia at the time)
This piece, which required intricate detail, could only be carried out by a limited number of craftsmen with high skills, especially in painting, and it is assumed that mass production would have been difficult in the context of the times, when production efficiency was given priority.
All of the teacups and saucers we have received this time have the same painter's signature, which suggests that there were only a limited number of painters at Arabia at the time who could handle such fine brushwork.
(Photo: The signature on the last line is the initials of the designer and the painter who actually painted the design. UP stands for Ulla Procoppe, who designed the original design, and the right side separated by a slash is the painter's signature.)
(Photo: All the pieces we received this time were painted by an artist named EV for the cups and SH for the saucers.)
What makes this piece even more special is the presence of its designer, Ulla Prokoppe, a key figure in Finnish design and known for creating other Arabia classics such as Valencia and Ruska.
(Photo: Ulla Procoppe)
However, she passed away in 1968 before she could see the commercialization of "Purprijenka", so this piece was one of her last design ideas and can be considered a posthumous work that reflects her unique style and sensibility.
The purple color of Purpurienka seems to express a rebellious spirit against the cold and dark climate of Scandinavia. Scandinavian tableware is often characterized by its gorgeous and bright designs that contrast with the harsh climate and natural features. Even in the small canvas of a teacup, the traditional nature of Scandinavian tableware is apparent, and it has the power to stimulate the viewer's rich imagination.
(Photo: The contradiction of making gorgeous tableware in a country with long winters creates the charm of Nordic tableware.)
We also cannot ignore the historical context of 1969-1970, when Arabia released its masterpiece "Paratiisi" and was at the peak of its technical and design capabilities.
(Photo: Birger Kaipiainen's masterpiece "Paratiisi")
The 1974 oil crisis caused a temporary reduction in production and Arabia entered a difficult period, but the several years prior to that were considered Arabia's golden age, when many masterpieces were produced. Purprijenka was created during that zenith, and its perfection and beauty truly symbolize that era.
Currently, while Nordic design is loved around the world, the actual production of Nordic tableware is generally carried out in Southeast Asia. However, there was a time when design and production were integrated.
(Photo: Arabia headquarters. At the time, all design and manufacturing was completed here.)
Unlike modern mass-produced items, works from that era are made with the skill and heart of the artisan. Works like Purprijenka have a beauty and form that cannot be reproduced in today's world, and their value increases with the passage of time.
(Photo: Current manufacturing site in Southeast Asia)
Arabia tableware from around the 1970s, especially Purprijenka, evokes the beauty of lost Nordic tableware and can be considered works of art that convey the aesthetic sense of the past.
I hope you will be able to sense the world that unfolds from this work while feeling the story behind it and the thoughts left behind by the designer.