This is a trio of early teacups, saucers and cake plates from Paratiisi, a famous brand of ARABIA pottery, manufactured around 1969.
Paratiisi means "paradise" in Finnish. It was designed by Birger Kaipiainen, a representative designer of the company, and was released in 1969. Because Paratiisi is time-consuming to produce, production was temporarily suspended in 1974. The logo has changed twice in just five years, but this is the earliest logo with a viola.
Paratiisi's logo has four versions: the viola (pansy) logo from 1969, the leaf logo produced in late 1971 with the ARABIA mark replacing the viola, the crown logo from the 1988 reprint with a circular English logo, and the modern black and white logo with the 1988 logo's colors removed. The 1988 crown logo was made in Finland, but all modern versions are made in Thailand.
Paratiisi with the Viola logo are hard to find even in Finland, and are extremely rare worldwide. They are a collector's item among Arabia products.
For more information, please see this article: The history of the ARABIA Paratiisi logo .
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA Designer: Birger Kaipiainen Series: Paratiisi Year: 1969 Country of origin: Finland Condition: ★★★★☆ (4: Excellent condition)
When held up to the light, slight cutlery marks can be seen on the surface of the saucer and the plate. All three pieces are vintage items in near mint condition with no cracks or chips.
■Size
Cup width 11.7cm (including handle) Height 6.7cm Saucer diameter 17cm Plate diameter 21cm
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.
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.