This is a vintage 25cm Paratiisi deep plate from the Finnish company Arabia. Unlike the original oval plates, which were produced in Finland between 1969 and 1971, this 25cm deep Paratiisi plate was rarely produced. The backstamp features a picture of a viola, making it a collector's item known as an old Paratiisi.
This is a rather rare shape even among old Paratiisi pieces, characterized by the rim rising as it approaches the bowl. Although it has the Viola logo, there is no year engraved on it, so it is thought to have been made in the late 1970s or early 1971. This is thought to be one of the last pieces to feature the Viola logo, and is a masterpiece with particularly excellent color.
The series name Paratiisi means "paradise" in Finnish. Designed by Birger Kaipiainen, one of the company's leading designers, it was released in 1969, but production was temporarily halted in 1974 due to the oil crisis. The series of the same name was reissued 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 replaced the circular English logo, 4) the black and white logo with the 1988 logo 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 (option 4) is made in Finland, all modern versions are made in Thailand. This product has the viola logo (option 1).
Currently, Paratiisi plates are being produced in reproduction form, all made in Thailand. The modern version is characterized by a clear, deep surface paint color and a striking white base. The original version had a lighter paint color, and each plate has its own unique color.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA / Arabia Designer: Birger Kaipiainen Series name: Paratiisi Era: 1 969-1971
Country of origin: Finland
Condition: ★★★☆☆ (3: Slight cutlery marks visible)
The plate is in good vintage condition with no cracks, chips, or crazing. Although not visible, cutlery marks can be seen when holding the plate up to the light. There are also manufacturing support marks on the back.
■ Size: Width 25.5cm, Length 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.
