This highly complete set features all 25 "Kalevala" commemorative plates from Arabia, Finland's leading ceramics manufacturer. It includes 24 plates from 1976 through 1999, when the series was discontinued, as well as one large plate produced in 1985, providing a comprehensive historical overview of the series.
Kalevala is one of Arabia's representative works by designer Raija Uosikkinen. Alongside masterpieces by Emilia, Ali, Payattu, and Ahmed, it boasts enduring popularity as a "Nordic tableware that tells a story through pictures," combining the beauty of lines with a sense of storytelling.
The Kalevala is an epic poem compiled by Elias Lönnrot, a Finnish physician and scholar, from folklore. It contains a world of myths and legends, which is similar to the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in Japan.
Uosikkinen condensed the mythical world into a single plate each year and released it as an annual plate during the Christmas season. From its launch in 1976 until its discontinuation in 1999, this series saw a series of new plates added every year for a quarter of a century.
Another interesting thing about the Kalevala is that the newer the plates, the harder they tend to be to obtain. The latter half of the series was a time when supply was restricted due to a revision of Arabia's production system, and as a result, the later works are more limited in number. The biggest reason why it is difficult to collect Kalevala plates is that the newer they are, the harder they are to obtain.
This time, all works have arrived, including the addition of a large plate commemorating the 150th anniversary. The large plate celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first publication of "Kalevala" in 1835. It is slightly larger than the regular annual plates, giving it a special presence within the series. The motif is a scene that could be said to be the climax of the Kalevala, depicting people and animals quietly listening to the sound of the kantele played by the protagonist, Väinämöinen. The composition, in which a "resonance" emerges from the image, which is supposed to be silent, makes this a fitting symbol of the Kalevala series.
You can hang them on the wall or take them out of the box and look at them one by one. This set will enrich your interior by displaying it throughout the year as seasonal decorations.
■Details Manufacturer: ARABIA Designer: Raija Uosikkinen Series: Kalevala Country of Origin: Finland Year: 1976-1999 Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
All 25 pieces are in perfect condition with no cracks or chips, and retain the same appearance as when they were manufactured.
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.
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.
