"KILTA" EGG RING (BLUE)

The KILTA series was launched in 1953 and manufactured until 1974.
Under the slogan "Confuse the dinner set," all waste was eliminated, resulting in a functional and minimalist design that could be used for multiple purposes and easily harmonized with other tableware.
It was a masterpiece by KAJ FRANCK, who launched a "kitchen revolution" at a time when decorative dinner sets with fixed uses for each item were the mainstream.

This is an A model egg ring added to the KILTA series in 1955.
*It is in good condition with no noticeable damage.

KAJ FRANCK｜1911–1989｜FINLAND

Kaj Franck was one of the leading designers representing 20th-century Finnish modern design. He studied under Arttu Brummer at the Central School of Arts and Crafts (now Aalto University) in Helsinki. 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 renewing tableware necessary for daily life after the war. In 1946, he became a glass designer at Iittala after winning an award at the Karhula-Iittala competition, but in 1950, he moved to Nuutajärvi, a group company under Wärtsilä (the same 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 idea of "design for the masses" and "the social responsibility of designers." He designed many universal products that could be used for a long time, using simple geometric forms and colors without decoration.

Arabia's KILTA (now TEEMA) series and Nuutajärvi's Tumbler 5027 (now KARTIO) series are long-selling products that are still manufactured by Iittala today. On the other hand, Franck also created many highly artistic unique glass pieces at Nuutajärvi through an artisanal 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), and greatly influenced 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｜1873 –｜FINLAND

Arabia was founded 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, a tunnel kiln, which was one of the largest in the world at 112 meters long, was introduced, establishing efficient production and a mass production system. This led Arabia to develop into one of Europe's leading ceramics factories.

In 1932, Kurt Ekholm was appointed art director, and organized Arabia's artistic activities into an art department. He created an environment for artists to work 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— have worked together to develop products.

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 an important part in the development of Finnish ceramics.

In the 1940s, Friedl Kjellberg developed Rice Porcelain using the "hotarude" (firefly) technique. Mass production began in 1950 and continued until 1974, becoming a long-selling product and receiving high international acclaim as Arabia's representative artistic porcelain.

Against the backdrop of functionalism that spread in the Nordic countries in the 1930s, Ekholm launched the AR series (SINIVALKO) tableware in 1935, setting the direction for later 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, launched in 1953, featuring simple geometric forms and versatility, achieved great success as an innovative modern design tableware.

Arabia has boasted 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 won awards, establishing its global reputation.