This is a vintage 25cm deep plate from the famous Paratissi from the Finnish company ARABIA . This is a 25cm wide paratissi with a deep plate type that was rarely manufactured, unlike the original oval plate that was manufactured in Finland from 1969 to 1971. It is a collector's item called an old paratissi with a picture of a viola on the back stamp.
It has a rather unusual form among Old Paratissi, and is characterized by the height of the rim, which is almost as high as the bowl. Although it has the viola logo, there is no year stamped on it, so it is thought to have been made in the late 1970s or early 1971. This is thought to be the last work of the viola logo, and is a masterpiece with particularly excellent color.
The series name Paratiisi means "paradise" in Finnish. It was designed by Birger Kaipiainen, one of the company's leading designers, and released in 1969, but production was temporarily discontinued in 1974 due to the oil crisis. In 1988, the series of the same name was reprinted.
The Paratissi logos are: 1) the viola (pansy) logo from 1969, 2) the leaf logo that replaces the viola part produced in late 1971 with the ARABIA mark, and 3) the 1988 reprint. There are five types: the crown logo which has been replaced with a circular English logo, 4) a black and white logo which has removed the colors from the 1988 logo, and 5) a made in Thailand logo which has further removed the circular logo from the black and white logo. The black and white crown logo (number 4) is made in Finland, but the modern version is all made in Thailand. This product has the viola logo number 1.
Nowadays, reprints of Paratissi are being manufactured, but they are all made in Thailand. The characteristics of the modern version are that the paint color on the surface is clear and dark, and the whiteness of the base is also outstanding. The original version's paint is a pale color, and each plate has individual differences in color.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA / Arabia Designer: Birger Kaipiainen / Birger Kaipiainen Series name: Paratiisi / Paratiisi Year: 1 969-1971
Country of origin: Finland
Condition: ★★★★☆ (4: Good condition)
The plate itself is a dead stock item with no evidence of having been used as tableware. When the surface is exposed to light, you can see some preservation scratches here and there. On the back, you can see the remains of the struts from manufacturing. The color and luster are excellent, and the work is of a very high degree of completion. Even the viola logo can be said to be of exceptional quality.
■ Size Width 25.5cm Height 22.5cm Height 4cm
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.
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.