This is a huge art plate designed in the 1950s by Birger Kaipiainen, one of Finland's leading 20th century modern masters. Kaipiainen is known as a designer at ARABIA in Finland, but he also worked at Rorstrand in Sweden from 1954 to 1958. This limited edition plate was designed during those four years.
For more information, please see this blog article "Birger Kaipiainen's 500-piece limited edition plate"
Speaking of Kaipiainen's work, the masterpiece "Paratissi" is well known, but Paratissi was designed in 1969. Although it depicts a Christian worldview of paradise, Paratissi had actually been pursuing mythological motifs for more than 10 years before his appearance. This plate is a masterpiece that allows you to feel the origin of Kaipiainen's creation.
During his time at Rorstrand, Kaipiainen is said to have greatly developed his own style and technique. At Rorstrand, we set out to create artistic ceramic pieces that stand out from the production of general industrial ceramics. The distinctive style he developed during this period became a theme that would continue throughout his career and greatly influenced his later work.
Kaipiainen's work at Rorstrand was to "blur the boundaries between art and industrial design." While plates are works of art, they are also everyday fixtures, contributing to the establishment of a unique way of using Scandinavian tableware that brings joy both to using and looking at. Kaipiainen is known for his highly individualistic expressions, particularly through experimentation with glazes and colors.
This experience in Sweden greatly influenced Kaipiainen's creative work even after he returned to Finland. The experiments and results of his time in Rorstrand continued in his creative activities in Finland and became the basis for his representative body of work. Birger Kaipiainen's career at Rorstrand occupies an important place in the history of Nordic ceramic design.
Kaipiainen's designs are heavily influenced by surrealism. The masterpiece Paratissi is also based on a mythical paradise, and the flowers and fruits depicted are all imaginary. The same goes for this art plate, which does not have a specific fruit or plant as a motif, but is based on his imagination. The apple of paradise, which is the fruit of wisdom, and the grassy landscape that covers them are depicted geometrically.
The number of Kaipiainen art plates is decreasing, and they are no longer seen on the vintage market. The era in which Scandinavian design established its unique worldview is called the "mid-century," and it mainly dates from the 1950s to the 1970s. In the 1980s, the time-consuming and expensive manufacturing methods that had been used up until then fell out of favor, and with the economic recession, the technology entered a period of decline. In the 1980s, famous designers such as Kaipiainen passed away, and there were no successors, and the world of Scandinavian modernity entered a winter period.
Even if the mid-century vintage item is the same piece, the color luster and depth of the glaze will vary slightly from piece to piece. It is natural for there to be errors and intrusions, but on the other hand, the colors are outstanding and show the quality of the handiwork. Therefore, Kaipiainen's artwork cannot be reproduced today, and even in the 21st century, it can be said to be a work from a glorious era that will never be available. This is one of 500 works that Kaipiainen personally supervised. Eventually, it will have asset value. Please take this opportunity to take a look.
Please note that this is a very large plate, so it will take up a lot of space to display in a Japanese house. This is the largest plate we have ever handled at our store, and is more of a painting-like interior piece than a decorative plate. It is so large that it would be difficult for one person to carry it alone, so please check the size before considering it.
■Details Manufacturer: Rörstrand / Rörstrand designer: Birger Kaipiainen / Birger Kaipiainen Year: 1950s Country of origin: Sweden Condition: ★★★★☆ (4.5: Very good condition)
There is some slight paint loss on the upper right edge of the plate. Also, when you look at the light, you can see slight intrusions in the rising parts of the upper right and upper left of the plate surface. Penetration is a crack that runs on the glaze surface during firing during the manufacturing process, and is not a scratch from use or damage to the body itself. All of these items are caused by the manufacturer's manufacturing process and have passed inspection.
Overall, it is a very beautiful item with good color and no cracks or chips. The serial number is hidden as a consideration for those who collect it. If you would like to know the number, please contact us via email.
■Size Width 62cm Height 46cm
Birger Kaipiainen
Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988)
Born in Pori, southwestern Finland, on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Finland's leading designer, known as the "King of Decorators". Although he moved to the capital, Helsinki, when he was a child, Kaipiainen spends every summer with a homestay in the Russian town of Sortavala. The sense of nature and artistry cultivated there would influence him throughout his life. In his prime, Kaipiainen suffered from polio, which forced him to walk with a cane for the rest of his life. Due to a disability in one hand, he was unable to turn the potter's wheel and make pottery by himself, but this experience is said to have inspired him to hone his unique artistic sense.
Kaipiainen graduated from Aalto University's Faculty of Art, Finland's top art university, and began working at ARABIA in 1937 , before also transferring to Sweden's Rorstrand for four years from 1954 . During the heyday of simple and unadorned modern Scandinavian art, Kaipiainen's designs were rich in ornamentation and characterized by detailed depictions drawn in every corner. He has created a unique worldview that stands out from the mainstream of the time, designing Paratisch in 1969 , Apia in 1970 , and Sunnuntai in 1971 . These are still Arabia's reprints and are their signature products.