Arabia Finland, Esteri Tomula – Aamu, Flora, Botanica

Arabia Finland, Esteri Tomula

This lovely design “Aamu”, Arabia Finland and was designed by Esteri (Essu) Tomula (1920-1988). It was in production 1971-1973.

Such a simple and beautiful design, and so effective in both its boldness and use of that intense blue on white.

If you look closer at the design you can see a range of blue tones and details. The flower petals as well have delicately painted veins on the petals which add to the power of the design.

Arabia Finland Aamu – Esteri Tomula

Arabia Finland Aamu – Esteri Tomula

Arabia Finland Aamu – Esteri Tomula

Essu had a long career with Arabia Finland for 40 years, and produced many designs that are now highly collectable. She started with Arabia in 1947 after graduating from the School of Applied arts (specialising in porcelain painting). She started in the hand painting department and soon moved to the department of applied arts. In the 1960s her designs were also printed on coffee and other enamel ware made my Finell Enamel.

Essu was inspired by the flora of Finland – which was a great match for the illustrational traditions and techniques of the 1940’s and 1950’s. Her technique was often to work with delicate black outlines which were made into transfer prints and then hand painted with areas of colour, easily apparent in designs such as Pastoraali.

When Arabia got its own facility for screen printing onto ceramics in the early 1960s Essu moved to the product development department and became a pattern designer there. Her style became more colourful and open with the freedom this technique enabled.

Tomula’s output at Arabia was vast, and she produced over 150 designs including:

The Botanica-series (1978-89), Primavera (1970-74), Sinilehti (1970-74), Elsa (1971-72), Irina (1971-72), Mira (1971-72), Ansa (1971-72), Vanamo (1973-74), Aurinko (1973-74), Gardenia (1973-74), Varpu (1971-73), Helluntai (1971-73), Aprilli (1971-73), Marja (1973), Vegeta (1966-early 70’s), Rosette (1983), Sinikello (1984-87), Raita (1971-73), Katrilli (1975-77), Kartano (1973-76), Krokus (1978-79), Flora (1979-81), Polar (1978-85).

Arabia Finland Botanica, Esteri Tomula – Photo by CopenhagenBlack Etsy

Arabia Finland Flora, Esteri Tomula

Her collaboration and work with other the other 2 powerhouse designers at Arabia – Kaj Franck and Raija Uosikkinen – went a long way in developing what we now recognise as an “Arabia Style” and made Arabia Finland one of the most popular and collectable brands of domestic ceramics.