Established in 2006
Item No. ：ARAB603
Designer：Göran Bäck
Maker：Arabia
Size ：H:123mm φ:122mm W:173mm
A pitcher designed and wheel-thrown by Göran Bäck.
Göran Bäck joined the model design department established by Kaj Franck in 1946, working as a potter and thrower. In his early years, he was involved in developing prototypes for production, including wheel-thrown models based on Kaj Franck’s designs. From 1957, he spent about a year in West Germany studying product design, and after returning to Finland began creating his own designs as an independent designer.
Kaj Franck had introduced a new direction for utilitarian ceramics with the B model, launched in 1953, and the BA model, which became the core of the KILTA series. By 1955, he was looking toward wheel-thrown utilitarian ware as a possible next step. In the late 1950s, potters including Göran Bäck produced prototypes such as teapots designed by Franck, but only a small number appear to have reached production, suggesting that this line of development was relatively short-lived.
This pitcher was most likely created within the same context. The signature “ARABIA GB” on the base suggests that it dates from the late 1950s, after Bäck returned from West Germany.
The strongly upright form retains visible throwing marks, while the large handle gives the piece a sense of balance and stability. A matte deep navy glaze, almost black in tone, emphasizes the surface created by wheel throwing.
It is unclear whether this model ever entered production or remained a prototype, but surviving examples are extremely rare.
As a wheel-thrown utilitarian object originating from Arabia’s model design department rather than its art department, it also occupies an unusual position within Arabia’s production.
* In good condition with no noticeable damage.
Göran Bäck was a Finnish potter, wheel-thrower, and designer who worked at Arabia for much of his career.
In 1941, he began working at the pottery workshop of his sister, Rakel Bäck, where he prepared clay and worked at the potter’s wheel. He later gained experience in slip casting in Arabia’s sanitary ware department before returning to his hometown. In 1945, he worked as a potter and wheel-thrower first at a small pottery workshop and then at KERA.
At the end of 1945, Bäck returned to Arabia and joined the ARA department, where he worked primarily at the potter’s wheel. In the summer of 1946, he and Kaarina Aho joined the Model Design Department established by Kaj Franck. Initially working as a potter, Bäck produced wheel-thrown prototypes based on Franck’s designs and contributed to the development of models for production.
In 1957, Arabia sent Bäck to West Germany for approximately one year to study product design. After returning to Finland, he began working independently as a designer, developing his own products while continuing to produce wheel-thrown prototypes for Kaj Franck.
Unlike many of his contemporaries at Arabia, who joined the company after formal design training, Bäck came to design through hands-on experience in clay preparation, wheel-throwing, casting, and prototype making. This progression from ceramic production to design is one of the defining aspects of his career.
Bäck remained at Arabia until 1986, contributing to numerous models, including postwar tableware, and was one of the figures who helped support the company’s product development.
Arabia was founded in 1873 in the Arabia district on the outskirts of Helsinki as a subsidiary of the Swedish ceramics manufacturer Rörstrand. Production began the following year in 1874. In 1916 Arabia separated from Rörstrand’s ownership and became an independent Finnish company.
In 1929 a tunnel kiln measuring 112 meters in length—one of the largest in the world at the time—was introduced, establishing an efficient mass-production system. This development enabled Arabia to grow into one of the leading ceramic factories in Europe.
In 1932 Kurt Ekholm was appointed Art Director and organized artistic activity at Arabia into a dedicated art department. He created an environment that allowed artists to work freely and established a structure in which product design and artistic works could develop side by side.
One of Arabia’s defining characteristics was its production system, which was divided into three closely connected fields: the Art Department, the Applied Arts Department, and the Product Design Department.
Artists such as Toini Muona, Friedl Kjellberg, Michael Schilkin, Birger Kaipiainen, Rut Bryk, and Kyllikki Salmenhaara worked within the art department. Their works gained international recognition from the 1930s onward, playing an important role in both the cultural identity of Arabia and the development of Finnish ceramic art.
In the 1940s Friedl Kjellberg developed Rice Porcelain using a delicate pierced porcelain technique. Mass production began in 1950 and continued until 1974, becoming one of Arabia’s most iconic artistic porcelain series and gaining international acclaim.
Influenced by the rise of Functionalism in Northern Europe during the 1930s, Ekholm introduced the AR tableware series (Sinivalko) in 1935, presenting a new direction that would later shape the development of Nordic modern design.
In 1945 Kaj Franck joined Arabia as a designer. Together with designers such as Kaarina Aho and Ulla Procopé, he led a major renewal of product design. The Kilta series, introduced in 1953, became a major success as a modern tableware design characterized by simple geometric forms and versatility.
Arabia has received numerous international awards since the 1930s. In particular, at the Milan Triennale of the 1950s (1951, 1954, and 1957), many works from both the art department and the product designers were awarded prizes, establishing Arabia’s international reputation.
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This is a vintage / pre-owned item. We take great care in our sourcing and select only pieces in good condition.
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