RELIEF "BUTTERFLIES"

In the early 1950s, Rut Bryk embarked on a new technique using plaster molds.
This allowed for the creation of works with the same design, but each unique through various glaze combinations and embossed decorations.
This particular piece, one of the reliefs featuring the "Butterfly" motif designed in 1957 using this plaster mold technique, was unveiled at the Finnish Pavilion of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair.
While there were butterfly-themed works before this relief, 1957 was also the year her father, Felix, a painter and lepidopterist, passed away. This series of reliefs can be seen as Bryk expressing her various feelings for her father through her art.

Two butterflies are arranged on a pastel pink glaze, with embossed decorations on the sides and other areas.
The back is glazed in blue.
*There is damage to the corners of the sides. Other than this, the piece is glossy overall, with no scratches, and is in very good condition.

RUT BRYK｜1916–1999｜FINLAND

Rut Bryk was a Finnish female designer and artist. She majored in graphic art at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, and after graduating, she worked as a graphic artist, producing illustrations and textile designs.

In 1942, she was invited by Kurt Ekholm, the art director of ARABIA's art department, to join as an apprentice, and subsequently worked as an artist in the art department for approximately 50 years.

Her husband, whom she married in 1945, was Tapio Wirkkala, a leading Finnish designer who later achieved great success with Iittala and other companies.

At the Milan Triennale, she received the Grand Prix with her husband in 1951 and an honorable mention in 1954.

She left behind many works that used ceramic clay as an innovative and unique expressive medium, and is one of the artists who spearheaded modernism in Finland.

ARABIA｜1873 –｜FINLAND

Arabia was established in 1873 as a subsidiary of the Swedish ceramics manufacturer Rörstrand in the Arabia district on the outskirts of Helsinki, and began operations the following year, 1874. In 1916, it separated from Rörstrand's capital and became an independent Finnish company.

In 1929, a tunnel kiln, one of the largest in the world at 112 meters long, was introduced, establishing efficient production and mass production systems. This led to Arabia's development into one of Europe's leading ceramic factories.

In 1932, Kurt Ekholm was appointed art director, and he organized Arabia's artistic activities into an art department. He created a production environment for artists and established a system to develop both products and art pieces in parallel.

A major characteristic of Arabia is that product development has been carried out through the interaction of three fields: the art department, the applied art department, and the product design department.

Artists such as Toini Muona, Friedl Kjellberg, Michael Schilkin, Birger Kaipiainen, Rut Bryk, and Kyllikki Salmenhaara participated in the art department. Their works gained international recognition from the 1930s, contributing to Arabia's cultural aspect and playing an important role in the development of Finnish ceramics.

In the 1940s, Friedl Kjellberg developed Rice Porcelain using the rice-grain technique. Mass production began in 1950, becoming a long-selling product until 1974, and was highly acclaimed internationally as Arabia's representative artistic porcelain.

Against the backdrop of functionalism spreading in the Nordic countries in the 1930s, Ekholm unveiled the AR series (SINIVALKO) tableware in 1935, showing the direction of future Nordic modern design.

In 1945, Kaj Franck joined as a designer, and together with Kaarina Aho and Ulla Procopé, he promoted the renewal of product design. The Kilta series, released in 1953, featuring simple geometric forms and versatility, achieved great success as innovative modern design tableware.

Arabia boasts numerous awards since the 1930s, especially at the Milan Triennale in the 1950s (1951, 1954, 1957), where many products by designers, in addition to works by artists from the art department, also received awards, establishing its global reputation.