Birger Kaipiainen - A unique glazed stoneware relief wall platter, "Lily of the Valley" - Arabia, Finland 1960's
Birger Kaipiainen - A unique glazed stoneware relief wall platter, "Lily of the Valley" - Arabia, Finland 1960's
A unique oval stoneware decoration wall-platter. The surface is decorated with black glaze, with iridescent spots.
The centre of the plate shows a "Lily of the Vallye"" with white flowers, the leaves and stem again in a iridescent glaze.
On the rim 12 butterflies with white and iridescent glazed wings and black and iridescent raised bodies made of beads.
The reverse is partly glazed in a transparent glaze. In pencil an arrow showing what side is up. Also a few blue lines underneath the glazing.
In the centre the plate is incised / signed: Kaipiainen Arabia
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About Birger Kaipiainen
Birger Kaipiainen (Pori 1915 - Helsinki 1988) was a renowned Finnish ceramic artist and designer, celebrated for his distinctive and imaginative creations.
Born on July 1, 1915, in Pori, Finland, Kaipiainen grew up in a creative environment, influenced by his family's appreciation for the arts.
He pursued formal education in art at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki, where he studied from 1933 to 1937. His early education provided him with a solid foundation in various art forms, but it was ceramics that truly captivated his interest.
In 1937, Kaipiainen joined the Arabia Porcelain Factory, a prominent Finnish ceramics company known for its high-quality products and innovative designs.
This marked the beginning of a long and fruitful association with the company, where he would spend most of his career. At Arabia, Kaipiainen's talents quickly became evident, and he began to develop his unique style characterized by intricate patterns, rich textures, and vibrant colors.
Kaipiainen's work is often described as poetic and fantastical, drawing inspiration from nature, folklore, and his own vivid imagination.
He was known for creating both functional and decorative pieces, including plates, vases, and wall plaques. His designs often featured lush floral motifs, whimsical birds, and other organic elements, rendered in a highly detailed and stylized manner.
Throughout his career, Kaipiainen received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of ceramics. Kaipiainen won a Grand Prix at the Triennale di Milano in 1951 and in 1963, he was awarded the prestigious Pro Finlandia medal, one of the highest honors given to Finnish artists.
His work was exhibited in various international exhibitions, further cementing his reputation as a master ceramicist.
Kaipiainen continued to work at Arabia until his retirement in 1981, although he remained creatively active well into his later years. His dedication to his craft and his innovative spirit left a lasting legacy in the world of ceramics.
His works are part of many significant collections, including those of the Design Museum in Helsinki and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Arabia, Finland 1960's
