"KILTA" BOX (BLUE) IS3

The KILTA series was introduced in 1953 and manufactured until 1974.
Under the slogan "Confuse the dinner set," it eliminated all waste, allowing one item to be used for multiple purposes and to harmonize easily with other tableware, resulting in a functional and minimalist design.
It is a masterpiece by KAJ FRANCK, who started a "kitchen revolution" when it was launched in an era where decorative dinner sets, each with a fixed purpose, were mainstream.

The lidded containers of the IS model, designed in 1949, were part of the KILTA series from its launch in 1953 (IS1 and IS2).
The flat, large IS3 was not present at the launch of the KILTA series in 1953, nor is it in the product catalog from 1967.
It appeared in catalogs from 1959 to the early 1960s, and the one we previously handled was manufactured in 1962.

As there are not many individual pieces, it is presumed that it was manufactured for a short period around 1960.
It is a rare item.
*It is in good condition with no noticeable damage. There are glaze spots and thin areas from manufacturing.

KAJ FRANCK｜Kaj Franck｜1911–1989｜FINLAND

Kaj Franck is one of the leading designers representing 20th-century Finnish modern design. At the Central School of Arts and Crafts (now Aalto University) in Helsinki, he studied under Arttu Brummer. After graduating, he worked in a wide range of fields, including furniture, interiors, and textiles.

In 1945, at the request of Kurt Ekholm, he was appointed chief designer at Arabia and was responsible for revamping tableware necessary for post-war daily life. In 1946, he became a glass designer at Iittala after winning a prize in a competition at Karhula-Iittala, but in 1950, he moved to Nuutajärvi, which became a group company under Wärtsilä, the same umbrella as Arabia, and as director, he began designing glassware with a common philosophy to Arabia.

Kaj Franck's design philosophy, also known as "the conscience of Finland," is based on the ideas of "design for the masses" and "the social responsibility of designers." Through simple geometric forms and color expressions devoid of decoration, he designed many timeless products that could be used for a long time.

Arabia's KILTA (now TEEMA) series and Nuutajärvi's Tumbler 5027 (now KARTIO) series are long-selling products that continue to be manufactured by Iittala today. At the same time, Franck also created many highly artistic unique glass pieces at Nuutajärvi through a craft-based approach, showcasing his artistic side.

From 1960, he was also involved in education at the School of Art and Design in Helsinki (now Aalto University), greatly influencing Finnish design education. He received numerous awards, including the Lunning Prize (1955), the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale (1957), and the Compasso d'Oro (1957).

ARABIA｜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 in 1874. In 1916, it separated from Rörstrand's capital and became an independent Finnish company.

In 1929, the world's largest tunnel kiln at the time, measuring 112 meters in length, was introduced, establishing production efficiency and a mass production system. This led Arabia to develop into one of Europe's leading ceramic factories.

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

A major characteristic of Arabia is that its three fields—the art department, the applied art department, and the product design department— collaborated in product development.

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, playing a cultural role for Arabia, and significantly contributing to the development of Finnish ceramics.

In the 1940s, Friedl Kjellberg developed Rice Porcelain using the firefly technique. Mass production began in 1950 and it became a long-selling product until 1974, earning high international acclaim as Arabia's representative artistic porcelain.

Against the backdrop of the functionalism that spread in the Nordic countries in the 1930s, Ekholm launched the AR series (SINIVALKO) tableware in 1935, setting the direction for future Nordic modern design.

In 1945, Kaj Franck joined as a designer, and together with Kaarina Aho and Ulla Procopé, he led 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, but especially in the 1950s, at the Milan Triennale (1951, 1954, 1957), many products by designers, in addition to works by artists from the art department, also received awards, establishing its global reputation.