This salt box with lid is from the Silpa series by ARABIA, a leading Finnish tableware manufacturer. The heart-shaped decoration makes this a very cute item. The Silpa series comes in two colors, blue and orange, but this one is blue.
The design was created by Raija Uosikkinen, one of the legendary designers of ARABIA, known for Emilia, Kalevala, and Ali. She specializes in deformed pointillism and geometric patterns, and this pattern design is a good example of Uosikkinen's unique style. Also, as a characteristic of ARABIA products from the 1960s, the year and month of manufacture are engraved on the product. The 8-64 on the back indicates that this product was manufactured in August 1964.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA Series: Sirpa Form Design: Goran Back Pattern Design: Raija Uosikkinen Year: 1964-1969 Country of Origin: Finland Condition: Crazing
There is a thin crack from the side to the center of the back. The crack is a crack that runs on the glaze surface during the firing process of the manufacturing process and is not a scratch during use or damage to the main body itself. It has passed the manufacturer's inspection. There are also slight scratches from storage, but it is a dead stock item in good condition with no history of use.
■Size
Width 17cm Height 13cm Depth 8.5cm
ARABIA - Arabia
ARABIA is a ceramic manufacturer representing Finland in the 20th century. Originally, ARABIA was a factory established in Finland by Sweden's Rörstrand as a base for producing pottery for Russia. The company's name comes from the fact that it was established in the Arabian district of Helsinki, the capital.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, many world-famous designers such as Ulla Procoppe, Birger Kaipiainen, Laiya Uosikkinen, and Esteri Tomura created many works, known as the Golden Age of ARABIA. Works that had a great influence on modern modern design were created at the time, from simple Scandinavian modern designs to highly decorative and well-crafted pieces. ARABIA is known for its masterpieces such as paratissi, crocus, flora, and corari, which are both practical and decorative items unique to Scandinavian tableware that are useful for both interior and everyday use.
Raija Uosikkinen
Raija Uosikkinen (1923-2004)
Originally from Holoran, a town in southern Finland. Graduated from Aalto University's Faculty of Fine Arts in 1947 and joined Arabia. He worked as an exclusive designer for Arabia for 40 years until 1986, and was responsible for the designs of the Emilia series and Kalevala ear plates. He often collaborated with Kai Franck, with Kai Franck generally providing the form of the product and Uosikkinen providing the decorative design.
Even after Laija Uosikkinen retired from ARABIA in 1986 , he continued to live in a house right next to his company and happily invited the company's current designers and students from Aalto University to his home, providing friendly hospitality while also serving as a mentor to future generations. He is said to have provided guidance. His most famous work, the Emilia series, is said to express his longing for life in the distant United States. After World War II, Finland was never a rich country due to a series of periods of poverty, and the longing for richness during these poor and difficult times is the background behind the creation of this masterpiece.