{"product_id":"kfgl1918","title":"TUMBLER(BLUE) 1709","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"item-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTumbler “1709,” designed by Kaj Franck in 1959, was produced from 1959 to 1965.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFranck began designing ceramics at Arabia in 1946 and glassware at Nuutajärvi in 1950. Amid the material shortages and changing lifestyles of the postwar period, he placed greater emphasis on functionality than decoration, focusing on practical objects for everyday life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1953, Franck introduced the BA model at Arabia, which would later become the core of the KILTA series, as well as the pressed-glass “5023” tumbler series and the mold-blown “2744” series at Nuutajärvi. Across different materials—ceramics and glass—and different methods of production—mold-blowing and pressing—he began to fully develop a product design language based on geometric forms and an emphasis on functionality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 1957 and 1960, his designs developed beyond the simple geometric forms of his earlier work toward compositions combining multiple cylindrical and spherical forms, as exemplified by the “1500\/KF500 Kremlin Bell.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tumbler is one such example. Its upper section flares outward while the middle of the body curves outward, so that when stacked, the angle of the lower tumbler’s upper section follows the curve of the upper tumbler’s midsection, allowing the tumblers to nest securely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rare model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*In good condition with no noticeable damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"black-text-01\" style=\"margin-top: 48px;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKAJ FRANCK｜1911–1989｜FINLAND\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKaj Franck was one of the leading figures of 20th-century Finnish modern design. He studied furniture design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki under Arttu Brummer, and during his studies visited the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition, where he encountered the emerging ideals of functionalism. After graduating in 1932, he worked across a wide range of fields, including furniture, interiors, textiles, and toys. In 1934, he briefly worked as a draughtsman at Riihimäki Glassworks. His work was disrupted during the Second World War, but this period played a role in shaping the socially conscious approach that would later define his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1945, Franck was invited by Kurt Ekholm, then art director of Arabia, to join the company, where he was tasked with redefining tableware for postwar everyday life. At that time, Ekholm appointed, for the first time at Arabia, a designer dedicated specifically to utility ware, and Franck became the first to take on this role. As he had no formal training in ceramics, he was regarded as someone capable of approaching tableware from a fresh perspective, unbound by established conventions. In 1946, following success in a design competition organized by Karhula-Iittala, he began working as a glass designer at Iittala. In 1950, when Nuutajärvi became part of the same Wärtsilä group as Arabia, he moved there, where he began designing glassware based on the same principles he had pursued at Arabia, later serving as artistic director.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOften described as the “conscience of Finnish design,” Franck’s philosophy was rooted in the ideas of “design for the people” and the social responsibility of the designer. His work is characterized by simple geometric forms and the use of color without ornamentation, resulting in timeless objects intended for long-term use. For Franck, beauty meant being “necessary, functional, justified and right.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong his most iconic works are the KILTA series (now known as TEEMA) for Arabia and the 5027 tumbler series (later marketed as KARTIO) for Nuutajärvi, both designed in the 1950s and still in production by Iittala today. KILTA in particular introduced a radically new approach: instead of fixed dinner services, it allowed users to select and combine individual pieces according to their needs, redefining the concept of tableware and setting the direction for modern tableware design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the same time, Franck also produced numerous unique glass works at Nuutajärvi, especially from the 1970s onward, exploring more experimental and craft-oriented approaches. These works reveal another, more artistic dimension of his practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom 1960, Franck was also active as an educator at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki, exerting a lasting influence on Finnish design education. His legacy continues today, reflected in the Kaj Franck Design Prize established in his name. His many honors include an Honorary Award at the Milan Triennale in 1954, the Lunning Prize in 1955, the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale in 1957, and the Compasso d’Oro in the same year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"KAJ FRANCK","offers":[{"title":"BLUE \/ KFGL1918","offer_id":50319286567152,"sku":null,"price":13750.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0786\/5761\/8160\/files\/KFGL1918_1.jpg?v=1787824187","url":"https:\/\/elephant-life.com\/en\/products\/kfgl1918","provider":"ELEPHANT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}