This is a collector's item from ARABIA, one of Finland's leading ceramic manufacturers.
Sinirintu means "blue bird" in Finnish. Maeterlinck's "The Blue Bird of Happiness" is famous in Scandinavia, and it is a fable about how Tiltil and Michiru, who have been on an endless journey but have not been able to find the blue bird that brings them happiness, one day realize that it is their own turtle dove. It is a moral story that tells us that happiness is actually close to us all the way through, even if we don't know it. Three such blue birds are depicted on this cup. Uosikkinen may have also wanted to say that happiness is close to us.
The designer of this piece, Raija Uosikkinen, worked as an exclusive designer for ARABIA for 40 years from 1947 to 1986, and produced masterpieces such as Emilia, Ali, Pajazzo, and Ahmed. In particular, she invented the Kalevala year plates, which are produced every year during the Christmas season, and they remain popular among many collectors to this day.
This Sinirintu cup is printed using a copperplate transfer printing method, just like the Ali and Payattu cups. Copperplate transfer printing is a type of silk screen printing in which a copper plate with a pattern design is coated with cobalt-based ink, the transfer paper is brushed onto a plain piece of pottery to fix it, and then a thin layer of transparent glaze is applied and the piece is refired. Individual differences in color shading and unevenness occur depending on the amount of pressure used to transfer the piece. Individual differences in color shading and unevenness occur depending on the amount of pressure used to transfer the piece. Compared to applying a uniform, even transfer paper, the differences in shading create individuality and flavor, and the skill of the craftsman is clearly apparent.
Because this work is so time-consuming, Sinirintu ceased production during the oil crisis in the mid-1970s. This was a serious period in which the production of the masterpiece Paratiisi was also discontinued, and the production of the main lineup was forced to end across the board. In the 1980s, cheap pottery began to gain popularity, and many ARABIA products were produced that omitted processes and reduced costs, such as by simply attaching pre-made transfer paper or decorating with simple hand painting. Compared to the works from the golden age up to that point, the decoration of the works from the 1980s onwards is extremely simple, giving a sense of the difficult times when it was difficult to devote money to time and effort. Considering the historical background, Sinirintu is one of the last works from ARABIA's golden age that were very labor-intensive.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA Designer: Raija Uosikkinen Title: Sinilintu Country of Origin: Finland Year: 1966-1975 Condition: ★★★★☆ (4.5: Very good condition)
This is an unused dead stock item. Although there are slight scratches on the surface of the saucer due to storage, this is a piece in the best condition among Sinirintu pieces available on the market.
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.