The difference between "Nordic tableware" and "Nordic vintage tableware" is mainly the manufacturing period and design style.

Nordic tableware : This is a broad category that refers to all tableware from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc.). It includes all tableware made in these countries, regardless of production period or design style. Nordic tableware is characterized by simple, functional designs, incorporates natural elements, and often uses light colors. Modern Nordic tableware is almost entirely produced under license in Southeast Asia.

Nordic Vintage Tableware : This category generally refers to Nordic tableware made more than 20 years ago, especially in the mid-20th century (1950s-1970s) . Designs from this period are known as Nordic Modernism or Mid-Century and are considered the origins of modern Nordic design. Vintage tableware tends to increase in value over time and is often sought after as an antique or collector's item. Nordic vintage tableware is produced in the Nordic countries.

Both categories reflect Nordic aesthetics and values, but there are differences in appearance and value due to the influence of the time of production and the design style of the era.

A representative brand of Nordic vintage

Some of the most popular brands of Nordic vintage tableware include:

1. Arabia:

Arabia is a Finnish ceramics brand founded in 1873. Their products are characterized by simple, easy-to-use, and sophisticated designs, and feature motifs that symbolize Nordic nature and culture. In particular, their vintage tableware, such as the "Kilta" series by designer Kaj Franck and the " Paratiisi " series by Birger Kaipiainen , exudes a unique charm and is popular with collectors around the world. Their modern yet warm designs have long been beloved as representative of Nordic design.

2. Marimekko:

This Finnish textile and furniture brand was founded in 1951. The brand's designs are colorful and are known for their bold floral prints. Marimekko originally meant "Malian dresses" and was named after the brand's focus on textile design. The brand gained fame when Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of John F. Kennedy, was a fan of Marimekko dresses.

3. Iittala:

Iittala is a leading Finnish manufacturer of high-quality glassware. Since its founding in 1881, it has provided the world with simple, beautiful Nordic-designed tableware and interior items. One of Iittala's iconic pieces, "Aalto," was designed by Alvar Aalto in 1936, and its wave-shaped design symbolizes Finnish nature. Iittala products are also committed to sustainable production processes, and are known for their eco-friendly glassware made from recycled glass. Iittala glassware embodies the essence of Nordic design, combining simple, beautiful design with high-quality materials and sustainable production methods.

4. Rörstrand:

Rörstrand is the oldest ceramics manufacturer in Scandinavia, founded in 1726 in Stockholm, Sweden. It has produced many of Sweden's most famous designers, including Marianne Westman , Gunnar Nylund, and Carl-Harry Starhan. The manufacturer also provides tableware for the Nobel Prize banquet, and has produced a wide range of artistic pieces as well as everyday tableware. It is the second oldest ceramics manufacturer in Europe after Meissen, and ARABIA , now known as a Finnish manufacturer, originally started out in Rörstrand's Helsinki factory.

5. Gustavsberg:

Gustavsberg is a Swedish ceramics brand founded in 1825. Initially, Gustavsberg produced bathtubs and other home furnishings, but from the late 19th century, it began to focus on producing artistic ceramics, which made it widely known. It is also known for its simple, beautiful designs that incorporate motifs from nature and folklore, and has played a key role in Scandinavian design.

The works of Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larson , particularly from the 1940s to the 1970s , are world-famous. Tableware series such as Berså , characterized by their vibrant colors and unique shapes and patterns, and Lisa Larson's ceramic statues are still popular with many enthusiasts. Their modern yet warm and humorous style ushered in the golden age of Nordic design. Even today, they are highly regarded for their high artistic and technical capabilities, as well as their unique designs that evoke the Scandinavian atmosphere.

Gustavsberg products are exceptionally still produced locally in Sweden today . For more information, please see this article → "Why is Gustavsberg so expensive?"

6. Jie Gantofta:

Gantofta is a ceramic manufacturer founded in Sweden in 1942, and initially focused on producing fixtures. The turning point came in the late 1960s, when they invented embossed ceramic tiles , and interior ceramic tiles became their main product. There is a culture in Scandinavia of using ceramic tiles as interior décor, and they have an affinity with Japanese interiors. Even today, many of their ceramic tiles can be found on the antique market, and their colors and designs are still highly valued.

These brands had a major influence on design movements such as modernism and mid-century modern, and helped Scandinavian design become recognized worldwide. Vintage items also have value as collector's items because they reflect the cultural and artistic trends of the time.