ARABIA's masterpiece Paratiisi Vintage oversized oval plate. The Paratiisi series, which means paradise in Finnish, was designed by Birger Kaipiainen in 1969. A monochrome version of the same series was also designed in 1972. Production of Paratiisi was discontinued in 1974, but the series was revived in 1988. However, the shapes of the Finnish-made products from 1988 onwards have changed, and the plates have also been changed from oval to circular.
Currently, Paratiisi reproductions are being produced in oval shapes, but they are all made in Thailand. This is an original oval plate produced in Finland between 1969 and 1971. It features a picture of a viola on the back stamp. The stamp also has 2-70, indicating that it was produced in February 1970. This is a work from the year after Paratiisi's memorable release.
This 36cm size is the largest size available on the market.
■Details
Manufacturer: ARABIA
designer: Birger Kaipiainen
Series name: Paratiisi
Year: 1 February 970
Country of origin: Finland
Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
This is a deadstock item with no signs of having been used as tableware, and the plate is of excellent quality, including its color and luster. The support marks on the back are a result of the manufacturing process. This is a piece in top condition available on the market, and even with the Viola logo, it is an exceptional piece of workmanship.
■Size: Length 36cm, Width 31cm, 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.
