This is a teacup from the legendary Korari series by ARABIA, a leading Finnish ceramics manufacturer. The series name Korari means "coral reef," and the cup features dancing pink coral reminiscent of cherry blossom petals.
The design was done by Raija Uosikkinen, known for Emilia and Kalevala. Uosikkinen retired from Arabia in 1986, so this piece, designed in 1983, was one of the final pieces of her career.
The designer of the Coralli design was Ulla Procoppe, famous for Rusca and Valencia. Coralli modeled the design on the "S model" of the smash hit Rusca, designed in 1960. The S model is the collective name for the basic form of the tableware series used in Rusca, including cups, plates, and pots.
Since the introduction of the S-Model, many Arabia products have been produced using the same shape as the Ruska S-Model, but with different surface decorations. Ulla Prokoppe passed away in 1968, so the release of the Korali in 1983 shows that the S-Model, designed by Ulla Prokoppe, was still highly regarded for nearly 20 years after his death. The S-Model is also used in the Cosmos, Fructus, and Flora series of dishes. Because the "same shape" continued to be used, the product was named the S-Model, an abbreviation of Sama (which means "same" in Finnish).
Coralli comes in four sizes: demitasse, coffee, mug, and teacup. This teacup is the largest in the series. It is relatively short, but its cylindrical shape makes it a large-capacity cup.
Uosikkinen's pink coral design depicts coral commonly found in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii. A distinctive feature of Scandinavian tableware is the incorporation of a spring-like gaiety into its designs, which contrasts with the long winters of the region, and Coralli's work is a perfect example of this characteristic.
(Pink coral, the motif of Coralli)
This product was released during the economic recession of the 1980s, when Arabia reduced production numbers, making it highly sought after today. Compared to the same S model from the 1960s and 1970s, production numbers were particularly low, making it currently fetch a high price on the market .
This is why Ruskas from the 1960s are still relatively affordable, while newer Corallis of the same style are extremely expensive. Corallis are extremely popular for their cute designs, and the larger the cup size, the rarer they are to be found on the vintage market.
■Detailed specifications
Manufacturer: ARABIA / Arabia Form Designer: Ulla Procope / Ulla Procope Pattern Design: Raija Uosikkinen Series: Koralli / Koralli Year: 1983-1987 Country of Origin: Finland Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
Both the cup and saucer are deadstock items that have never been used. They are in mint condition with no cracks, chips, or crazing and are in excellent condition.
■Size
Diameter 10cm, width 12.5cm (including handle), saucer diameter 16cm
Ulla Procope
Ulla Procope (1921-1968)
Born in Helsinki. In 1948 , he graduated from the Faculty of Art and Design at Aalto University in Helsinki and joined Arabia Company. After that, he was in charge of design in the production department for 20 years, creating the Ruska series in 1960 and the Valencia series in 1961 . Ruska became the longest-running and most sold flagship product of Arabia's products, and the form of Ruska was called the S model , which became the prototype model for subsequent ARABIA tableware. Valencia is the last hand-painted ARABIA product. After suffering from cancer and retiring from active duty, Procope moved to Spain's Canary Islands, where he died at the age of 47 .
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.
