This is an original work by Sunnuntai, a masterpiece released in 1971 by ARABIA, a leading Finnish pottery manufacturer. There are many reproductions available now, but this is a vintage plate made half a century ago. The size of the dinner plate is 25cm.
The series name, Sunnuntai, is Finnish for "Sunday," and the pop design evokes the image of a bright spring afternoon. It was produced for three years from 1971 using the oval plate mold of Kaipiainen's masterpiece Paratiisi, but production was discontinued for a long time after that. A reprint model was produced in 2021 to commemorate the 50th anniversary, and it is once again in the spotlight.
The reprint is made in Thailand, The difference is that the vintage version was made in Finland. The yellow paint on the surface is lighter on the reproduction version, but darker on the vintage version, and the color really expresses the sunlight. The series name, Sunnuntai, is engraved on the back, along with the ARABIA crown logo.
| Detailed specifications | |
| Manufacturer | ARABIA |
| designer | Birger Kaipiainen |
| Series name | Sunnuntai |
| Year | 1971-1974 |
| Country of manufacture | Finland |
| condition |
★★★☆☆ (3.5: Good condition) When held up to the light, the surface shows cutlery marks and scratches from stacking, but there are no cracks or chips and the original luster is still intact, making it in good condition. There are also marks from the supports at the time of manufacture on the back. |
| size | Width 25cm Length 22.5cm Height 3.5cm |
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.
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.