This is a one-of-a-kind piece by Rut Bryk, a master of Finnish modern art.
This ceramic tile was produced in the late 1950s, during Bryk's prime. It is a thick, square tile covered in a deep emerald green glaze, and is titled "Tuhkavati." "Tuhkavati" is the Finnish word for "ashtray," and this piece was indeed made for the purpose of being used as an ashtray (although it has never been used as such).
The artist, Rut Brück, was an artist employed by the Arabia company in the mid-20th century. At the time, there were many unique artists, such as Hilkka-Liisa Ahola and Gunval Olin Gronqvist, who mainly produced works in their studios, but Brück stood out among them.
Unlike mass-produced ceramic products, ARABIA's atelier works are unique pieces created by artists in a separate workshop within the company, who are given free rein to create them and sell them to the public.Their sales outlets are not generally accessible to the general public, but rather are distributed to acquaintances and clients, a different market from that of products normally sold in stores.
These studios closed in the 1970s, and while companies subsequently shifted to mass production, independent artists continued to produce and sell their works through their own channels, which remains to this day.
This piece was produced in the studio by Rut Bryk while she was still employed at Arabia, as evidenced by the signature "BRYK ARABIA" engraved on the back.
[Features of the work]
This piece is an unused artwork that has never been used as an ashtray.
The central cigarette holder is glazed with a green glaze to prevent it from burning, but the edges are bisque. The bisque edges feature a unique hand-painted pattern. The central glazed area and the bisque edges are separated by a slightly raised convex edge, and the edges are also engraved with patterns every few millimeters.
Rut Brück is an artist who specializes in extremely detailed sculptures, and even in small works like this one, it is clear that she devoted herself to the production without cutting corners.
The shape of the interior of the central depression is covered in varying thicknesses of green glaze. The areas with ▶◀ patterns resembling butterfly wings are thickly glazed, while the upper and lower ▼ and ▲ areas are thinly glazed, with dots painted on a pale emerald green background.
The back is completely decorated with a blue-green emerald glaze. Each eye-like circle around the edge is hand-painted, and even the fine vertical lines on the back edge are hand-drawn by Bruck.
The greatest mystery of this work lies in its firing process. Normally, glaze falls naturally from top to bottom due to gravity, but the glaze melted inside the kiln drips irregularly like droplets.
However, while the back of this piece is completely coated with an emerald green glaze, the front is divided into bisque and glazed areas, and the center of the front is further divided into thick and thin layers of glaze in the shape of a butterfly.
To create a single piece of pottery, it is necessary to apply an even layer of glaze to the back and then apply separate layers of bisque and glaze to the front, which requires extremely advanced firing techniques. This piece can be described as one shrouded in mystery, with no clear understanding of the process by which it was made.
Among the many works produced by ARABIA's atelier, Rut Bryk's pieces are particularly time-consuming to produce, and it is no exaggeration to say that each piece is filled with mystery and the universe.
Bruck's work has been gaining popularity in recent years, making it difficult to obtain worldwide and driving up prices. This work is well worth the price. Don't miss this opportunity to see it.
■Detailed specifications Manufacturer: ARABIA / Arabia Designer: Rut Bryk / Rut Bryk Era: Late 1950s Country of origin: Finland Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
There are no chips or cracks and it is in very good condition for a vintage item. It is a complete item that has retained the original condition from the time of manufacture.
■Size: 11.4 cm long x 11.3 cm wide x 2 cm high (officially a 12 x 12 cm ceramic plate)
Rut Bryk
