Arabia Finland – Hilkka Liisa Ahola

Arabia Finland – Hilkka Liisa Ahola

Arabia Finland designer HILKKA-LIISA AHOLA (born 1920 Helsinki) started with Arabia as a trainee in 1943 and went on to work in the art department there until 1974. During her trainee ship she studied both ceramics and porcelain painting with instruction from Elsa Elenius.

Characteristics of her work are her free, bold and expressive brushstrokes, and many of her designs include the use of blue hued floral motifs. She has also become known for her charming fajance painted pieces depicting romanticised female figures. In 1968 she was awarded Grand Prix, in the Faenza Ceramic Biennale.

The work Hilkka-Liisa which we probably see most often, and is most popular however is her striking sunflower or “aurinkoruusu” design which was produced on a series of dinnerware. It is the only design I have come across in person several times:

Arabia Finland, Sunflower Design, Hilkka Liisa Ahola

Arabia Finland, Sunflower Design, Hilkka Liisa Ahola

Arabia Finland, Sunflower Design Teapot , Hilkka Liisa Ahola. The handle on this piece has seen better days 🙂

I have also had the “Kuutamo” design:

Arabia Finland Kuutamo Plate, Hilkka Liisa Ahola

And similar to Kuutamo is the “Glow” design by Hilkka:

Arabia Finland, “Glow” plate, Hilkka Liisa Ahola:
Image: Swedish Heritage Etsy

The charming hand painted fajance plate below by HLA,  I found on the website of Freeforms USA.

Arabia Finland, Hilkka Liisa Ahola, Handpainted Fajance Plate. Image: Freeforms USA.

If you have any other designs by Hilkka Liisa Ahola, love to see them on the Facebook page for this site.