This is a collector's item from ARABIA, a leading Finnish pottery manufacturer.
Sinirintu means "blue bird" in Finnish. In Scandinavia, Maeterlinck's ``The Blue Bird of Happiness'' is famous, and one day Chiruchiru and Michiru realize that the blue bird that brings them happiness, which they never found despite their endless journeys, was actually a turtledove from their own home. , is a fable. This is a story that teaches us that happiness is something we don't know about, but is actually close to us from the beginning. This cup has three blue birds drawn on it. Uosikkinen may also have wanted to say that happiness is right around the corner.
The designer of this work, Laiya Uosikkinen, worked as an exclusive designer for ARABIA for 40 years from 1947 to 1986, and created works such as Emilia, Ali, Pajazzo, and Ahmed. Created a masterpiece. In particular, she invented the Kalevala ear plates that are produced every year during the Christmas season, and they are still very popular among collectors to this day.
This cup, called Sinirintu, is printed using the copperplate transfer method, just like Ali and Payazzo. Copperplate transfer is a type of silk screen printing, in which cobalt-based ink is placed on a copperplate with a pattern design, the transfer paper is brushed onto plain ceramics to fix it, and then a thin transparent glaze is applied. It is a process of repeated firing. Individual differences in color shading and unevenness may occur depending on the transfer force. Individual differences in color shading and unevenness may occur depending on the transfer force. Compared to applying transfer paper that is uniform and even, the difference in shading creates individuality and flavor, and the skill of the craftsman is clearly revealed.
This process was extremely time-consuming, so Sinirintu ceased production during the oil crisis in the mid-1970s. This period was a serious time when the production of the masterpiece Paratissi was also discontinued, and all of the major lineups up until then were forced to discontinue production. In addition, in the 1980s, inexpensive pottery became popular, and many ARABIA products were created with the aim of reducing costs by omitting processes such as pasting pre-made transfer paper as is or decorating with simple hand painting. I got it. The decorations of works from the 1980s onwards are extremely simple compared to works from the previous golden age, giving a sense of the difficult times when it was not possible to spare time and money. Considering the historical background, Sinirintu is one of the last highly elaborate works of the golden age of Arabia.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA / Arabia Designer: Raija Uosikkinen Product name: Sinilintu Country of origin: Finland Year: 1966-1975 Condition: ★★★☆☆ (3.5: Good)
When you hold the saucer under the light, you can see traces of cutlery and stacking. There is a burn mark on the edge, and there is some paint splatter on the inside of the edge. The cup is in beautiful condition with almost no scratches. The quality of the product is also excellent, with a vivid blue color. This item is in good condition with no cracks or chips and remains in its original condition.
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.