This is a collector's item from ARABIA, a leading Finnish pottery manufacturer.
Sinilintu means "blue bird" in Finnish. Maeterlinck's "The Blue Bird" is famous in Scandinavia, and it is a fable in which Tyltyl and Michil, who travel endlessly but are unable to find the blue bird that brings them happiness, one day realize that it is actually their own turtle dove. The story is like a moral lesson that happiness is actually close to us all along, we just don't know it. This cup features three bluebirds. Perhaps Uosikkinen was also trying to say that happiness is close at hand.
The designer of this piece, Raija Uosikkinen, worked as an in-house designer for ARABIA for 40 years from 1947 to 1986, creating masterpieces such as Emilia, Ali, Pajazzo, and Ahmed. In particular, she designed the Kalevala annual plates, which are produced every year during the Christmas season and remain highly sought after by many collectors to this day.
This Sinirintu cup is printed using a copperplate transfer method, similar to the Ali and Payattu cups. Copperplate transfer printing is a type of silkscreen printing in which a copperplate with a patterned design is coated with cobalt-based ink, the transfer paper is then brushed onto a plain piece of pottery to fix it, and a thin, transparent glaze is applied and the piece is re-fired. The amount of pressure used to transfer the ink creates individual differences in color intensity and unevenness. Compared to applying transfer paper evenly and evenly, the differences in color create individuality and flavor, and clearly show the skill of the artisan.
Because this process is so labor-intensive, Sini Linttu ceased production during the oil crisis in the mid-1970s. This was a serious period in which production of the masterpiece Paratiisi was also discontinued, resulting in the end of production of the entire major lineup. Furthermore, in the 1980s, cheaper ceramics began to emerge, and many ARABIA products were produced with the aim of reducing costs by eliminating processes such as simply applying premade transfer paper or decorating with simple hand painting. Compared to works from the previous golden age, works from the 1980s onwards feature extremely simple decorations, evoking a difficult time when time and money could not be allocated to labor. Considering the historical context, Sini Linttu is one of the last highly labor-intensive works from ARABIA's golden age.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA Designer: Raija Uosikkinen Title: Sinilintu Country of Origin: Finland Year: 1966-1975 Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
This is an unused dead stock item. Both the cup and saucer are deadstock items that have never been used. They are in mint condition with no cracks, chips, or crazing and are in excellent condition. While the vast majority of Sinirintu pieces have noticeable small scratches, perfect pieces like this are quite rare.
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.
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.
