Posts tagged ‘Arabia Finland’

Mar 5

Arabia Finland Valencia

Arabia Finland Valencia, Ulla Procope

Valencia was designed by Ulla Procope in 1960 and became so popular it continued until around 2002.

It is one of the standout designs to come out from Arabia Finland in the second half of the 20th Century.

It continues to be one of the most desirable and valuable (on the resale market) Arabia Finland dinnerware designs.

The design features an intense cobalt blue oxide painted onto a white ground, with the deep cobalt blue covering almost the entire surface.

It was designed in an era when there were a large number of employees decorating products. For example In 1960 there were still 175 employees hand decorating wares. It is unfortunate this labour intensive work is no longer economical – even though the output of each painter every day was huge.

Often other Arabia Finland designs with this strong cobalt blue pattern are confused with, and sold as Valencia – for example Köökki (a design by Gunvor Olin Gronqvist) is one often mistaken as the Valencia design simply because of its bold cobalt blue design.

Like many of these highly patterned designs, it is hard to appreciate the effect of the overall look until you see a whole set of the pieces together, as in the last photo.

Arabia Finland Valencia Sugar Bowl

Arabia Finland Valencia Tea Cup

Arabia Finland Valencia Tea Cup base.

Feb 13

Arabia Finland, Raija Uosikkinen

Raija Uosikkinen (1923- 2004) worked as a painter and decoration designer at Arabia Finland 1947-1986. She and Esteri Tomula were pivotal to the success of Arabia Finland when the product lines were revamped in the later 1940s and 1950s. Kaj Franck was responsible for most of the forms or shapes which the designs by Raija and Esteri were added to.

The very popular design “Ali” by Raija Uosikkinen designed in 1964 was produced until 1975. It came in both Blue and Brown variations, but the blue seems to be the more popular. “Ali” was also the last design on copperplate from the Arabia Finland factory.

Arabia Finland, Ali Design – Blue, Large Jug

The large jug in Ali design above is currently for sale on Etsy HERE

Arabia Finland, Ali Design – Blue, Large Platter

Arabia Finland, Ali Design – Blue, Large Bowl

Arabia Finland, Ali Design – Brown Plate

Arabia Finland, Ali Design – Brown

One of Raija’s most coveted , and now most expensive designs to purchase on the secondary market is the beautiful “Emilia” which was produced c1957-1966. It features charming crisp black and white graphics of a whimsical nature – some purported to be about the daily life of Uosikkinen´s American aunt’s life. Other motifs feature garden scenes, market scenes, and other depictions of daily life. Read more

Jan 5

2 Comments

Arabia Ruska – Ulla Procope

Ulla (Ulrika) Procope (1921-1968) worked in Arabia’s art department at the same time as Kaj Franc, Kaarine Aho, and Goran Back. Initially she trained with Olga Osol in the hand painting department at Arabia, after graduating as a ceramicist from the Central School of Arts & Crafts in Helsinki. She worked at Arabia from 1948-1967.

Ulla was a skilled wheel thrower who understood how clay worked, and her outstanding design skills along with the ability to create production models, contributed to the success of Arabia in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Ruska range which she designed for Arabia Finland in 1960 became one of the best selling lines in their history. Its production was continued into the 1990’s it was so popular. It has become a Scandinavian design classic.

It was the first time Arabia had used a matte glaze for mass produced utilitarian ware. Ruska had a handcrafted look and feel to it, with the glaze colour and mottled appearance turning out slightly differently on each piece.