Established in 2006
Item No. ：MRLB041
Designer：Marita Lybeck
Maker：Kera
Size ：H:55mm φ:80:mm W:119:mm
The catalyst for Marita Lybeck to pursue a career as a ceramist was the red clay pottery she saw and was captivated by at the KERA factory located near her home.
This is a rimmed plate from the 'KOTO' series, which she released immediately after becoming art director at KERA in 1957, the place that served as her starting point as a ceramist and designer.
It features a simple design that highlights the texture of the red clay, with black decoration applied only to the rim.
A clear glaze is applied over the entire piece.
Due to being handmade, there are individual differences in the color of the red clay, the glaze, and the size.
KERA closed in 1959, but by the summer of 1958, the factory was no longer operational, meaning production was for a very short period.
It is extremely rare.
*There are chips in the black glaze on the rim, but it is in good condition with no noticeable damage. There is one dent on the inner edge of the rim from the time of manufacture.
Marita Lybeck was a Finnish female designer and ceramist. Her elder brother was Nils-Gustav Hahl, one of the founding members of ARTEK, known as an art historian and critic. Through her brother, she interacted with key figures of the modernism movement at the time, and at the request of Aino Aalto, she designed ceramics and textiles for ARTEK. She was responsible for the fabrics of Alvar Aalto's furniture exhibited at the 1937 Paris World's Fair, as well as some of the tableware for the SAVOY restaurant.
In 1947, she established her own studio, EMMEL. She presented handmade tableware made from local red clay, characterized by simple forms with minimal decoration, and allowing for free combinations and stacking. These designs were modern and innovative, based on her design philosophy, and bore the traces of the craftsman's hands. She gained popularity, including a solo exhibition at ARTEK in 1951 titled "Form och funktion i rödlera (Form and Function in Red Clay)." However, fierce price competition with industrially mass-produced tableware sharing the same design philosophy, such as Kaj Franck's KILTA series, led to the closure of her business in 1957.
From 1957, she served as the art director of KERA, a local pottery manufacturer that had produced ARTEK's ceramics before the establishment of EMMEL, remaining there until 1958. Afterward, she worked as a manager in the art and design department of Stockmann, a department store in Helsinki.
She was awarded a silver medal at the Milan Triennale in 1954.
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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.
Any notable damage or condition issues, such as visible chips, cracks, stains, or repairs, are described in the listing. However, minor signs of age and use, as well as small imperfections, may not be noted individually. Please also note that these items were made in a period when manufacturing standards were not as precise as they are today.
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