Wall Plaque
ca. 1960 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Arabia ceramics factory was founded in 1873 near Helsinki. It was established by the Swedish company Rorstrand to enable them to take advantage of lower duties for Russian markets, but was sold off to a Finnish company by 1916.
In the 1930s, an Art Department was founded at Arabia under the leadership of artistic director Kurt Ekholm. Though sometimes the artists contributed designs for production pieces, they also created hand-made studio ceramics. These studio ceramics were included in world exhibitions and competitions, boosting the factories' reputations and doing much to foster the international fame of Scandinavian design.
Birger Kaipiainen first joined Arabia's Art Department in 1937. This witty bird is typical of his work and was one of his favourite motifs. He crafted larger three-dimensional birds out of ceramic beads, watch faces and wire.
In the 1930s, an Art Department was founded at Arabia under the leadership of artistic director Kurt Ekholm. Though sometimes the artists contributed designs for production pieces, they also created hand-made studio ceramics. These studio ceramics were included in world exhibitions and competitions, boosting the factories' reputations and doing much to foster the international fame of Scandinavian design.
Birger Kaipiainen first joined Arabia's Art Department in 1937. This witty bird is typical of his work and was one of his favourite motifs. He crafted larger three-dimensional birds out of ceramic beads, watch faces and wire.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Earthenware with black glaze, mirror glass and black glazed 'pearls' |
| Brief description | Earthenware wall plaque in the shape of a bird, probably a woodcock, with black glaze, applied mirror glass and black glazed 'pearls', made by Birger Kaipiainen at the Arabia Factory, Helsinki, ca. 1960. |
| Physical description | Earthenware wall plaque in the shape of a bird, probably a woodcock, with black glaze, applied mirror glass and black glazed 'pearls'. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'KAIPIAINEN' [incised] |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The Arabia ceramics factory was founded in 1873 near Helsinki. It was established by the Swedish company Rorstrand to enable them to take advantage of lower duties for Russian markets, but was sold off to a Finnish company by 1916. In the 1930s, an Art Department was founded at Arabia under the leadership of artistic director Kurt Ekholm. Though sometimes the artists contributed designs for production pieces, they also created hand-made studio ceramics. These studio ceramics were included in world exhibitions and competitions, boosting the factories' reputations and doing much to foster the international fame of Scandinavian design. Birger Kaipiainen first joined Arabia's Art Department in 1937. This witty bird is typical of his work and was one of his favourite motifs. He crafted larger three-dimensional birds out of ceramic beads, watch faces and wire. |
| Bibliographic reference | Opie, Jennifer Hawkins. Scandinavia: ceramics & glass in the twentieth century. London: V&A Publications, 1989. 66 p., ill. ISBN 1851770712. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.261-1987 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | September 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
