This is a rare vintage 29.5cm oval plate from the famous Paratiisi instrument by the Finnish company Arabia. This is an original plate manufactured in Finland between 1969 and 1971, making it a collector's item known as the "old Paratiisi."
The series name Paratiisi means "paradise" in Finnish. Designed by the company's leading designer, Birger Kaipiainen, it was released in 1969, but production was temporarily halted in 1974 due to the oil crisis. The series was revived in 1988.
Paratiisi's logo has five variations: 1) the viola (pansy) logo from 1969, 2) the leaf logo produced in late 1971, which replaced the viola with the ARABIA mark, 3) the crown logo from the 1988 reissue, which was replaced with a circular English logo, 4) the black and white logo with the 1988 logo's colors removed, and 5) the Thai logo, which is the black and white logo with the circular logo removed. While the black and white crown logo from 4 was made in Finland, all modern versions are made in Thailand. This is the earliest version of the viola logo.
Currently, Paratiisi is being produced in reproduction versions, all made in Thailand. The distinctive feature of the modern version is the clear, deep paint color on the surface, and the whiteness of the base.
The 29.5cm oval plate is currently out of production. No reproductions have been produced, so it is only available as a vintage item.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA Designer: Birger Kaipiainen Series: Paratiisi Production period: 1969-1971 Date of production: October 1969 (the earliest model of the Paratiisi series)
Country of origin: Finland Condition: ★★★★☆ (4.5: Excellent condition)
This is a deadstock item that has never been used and is in excellent condition. It is in near-perfect condition, has excellent preservation, and has excellent color and luster. It is an item highly recommended by the shop owner.
■Size: Width 29.5cm, Length 26.5cm, Height 4cm
Paratiisi ~ Finland's paradise ~
"Paratiisi" is a masterpiece created by Birger Kaipiainen, a famous designer of ARABIA. The series name means "paradise" in Finnish. After some trial and error by Kaipiainen, Paratissi was launched in 1969. Each piece of Paratissi was decorated with a richly colored print, making it one of the most elaborate and luxurious series of Arabic tableware of the time. Production ceased in 1974 due to the severe economic recession and fuel shortage caused by the oil crisis.
Paratissi is also known for its frequently changing logo, called a backstamp. 1) A logo that started with the viola (pansy) logo in 1969, 2) A logo that abolished the year stamp in the first half of 1971, and 3) A leaf that replaced the viola part produced around the second half of 1971 with the ARABIA mark. logo, 4) Crown logo, which was replaced with a circular English logo in the 1988 reprint, 5) Black and white logo from mid-2000, with the color of the 1988 logo removed, and 6) Made in Thailand, with the circle mark further removed. There are 6 types of logos. Until the mid-2000 logo, it will be made in Finland. The important thing to know is that the Thai made logo does not have "FINLAND" stamped on it.
In particular, the reprint editions of Paratissi from the mid-2000s onward are characterized by their darker decorations and thick design lines that make them easy to understand. Vintage items up to 1988 have pale colors and thin lines, giving a sense of depth throughout. Vintage tableware is more beautiful as tableware.
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.
