MUG

This mug was created in ARABIA's art department.
It depicts a Finnish landscape using multiple glazes.
Based on the glazes and style, it is presumed to be from around 1957.
Signed "ARABIA KS."
A rare item.
*In good condition with no noticeable damage.

KYLLIKKI SALMENHAARA｜Kyllikki Salmenhaara｜1915–1981｜FINLAND

Kyllikki Salmenhaara is one of the most distinguished potters of 20th-century Finnish ceramics, who elevated exceptional pottery wheel techniques to an art form. Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to the research and education of ceramics.

From 1938, she majored in ceramics under Elsa Elenius at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. She showed early talent, winning top prizes in school competitions while still a student.

After graduation, she worked as a glass designer at Kauklahti Glassworks for three years. In 1946, she studied glaze research at Saxbo in Denmark, under the guidance of Nathalie Krebs, known as a glaze chemist. The experience in glaze research cultivated there became the foundation for the unique glaze expressions seen in her later works.

She later passed through Sakari Vapaavuori's studio and joined Arabia in 1947. Initially, she worked as an assistant to Olga Osol, who was head of the applied arts department, but in 1950, she moved to the art department, where she remained until 1961. While researching the composition of ceramic clay and glazes, and firing techniques, she created works characterized by glaze expressions that leverage the texture of the materials and powerful forms created on the potter's wheel.

In 1956, she stayed in the United States and was exposed to the developing trends of studio ceramics, which is believed to have led to her subsequent free and powerful sculptural expressions.

Her works were highly acclaimed internationally, and at the Milan Triennale, she won a silver medal in 1951, an honorable mention in 1954, a Grand Prix in 1957, and a gold medal in 1960, winning awards at every exhibition she participated in.

During production, she left Arabia after an accident in which she injured her finger with a blade mixed into the clay, and from 1961, she became involved in ceramics education at a university in Taiwan. From 1963 until her death in 1981, she worked as an educator and researcher at the School of Art and Design and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

In 1974, she published her book "Keramiikka," which compiled her years of research and experience. This book, which systematically summarized ceramic materials, throwing techniques, clay and glaze mixing, and firing, had a significant impact on ceramics education and research in Finland.

Through her works, research, and educational activities, Salmenhaara left a significant mark on 20th-century Finnish ceramics.

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 in 1874. In 1916, it became independent from Rörstrand's capital and became a Finnish company.

In 1929, the world's largest tunnel kiln at the time, measuring 112 meters in length, 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 as art director, organizing 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 divisions – the art department, applied art department, and 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 acclaim from the 1930s onwards, contributing to Arabia's cultural aspect and playing an important role in the development of Finnish ceramics.

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

Against the backdrop of functionalism spreading in the Nordic countries in the 1930s, Ekholm unveiled 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, released in 1953, achieved great success as innovative modern design tableware characterized by its simple geometric forms and versatility.

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, received awards, establishing its global reputation.

This is a mug created in ARABIA's art department.
It is estimated to be from around 1957 to 1961.
Signed "ARABIA KS."
*In good condition with no noticeable damage.

KYLLIKKI SALMENHAARA｜Kyllikki Salmenhaara｜1915–1981｜FINLAND

Kyllikki Salmenhaara is one of the most distinguished potters of 20th-century Finnish ceramics, who elevated exceptional pottery wheel techniques to an art form. Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to the research and education of ceramics.

From 1938, she majored in ceramics under Elsa Elenius at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. She showed early talent, winning top prizes in school competitions while still a student.

After graduation, she worked as a glass designer at Kauklahti Glassworks for three years. In 1946, she studied glaze research at Saxbo in Denmark, under the guidance of Nathalie Krebs, known as a glaze chemist. The experience in glaze research cultivated there became the foundation for the unique glaze expressions seen in her later works.

She later passed through Sakari Vapaavuori's studio and joined Arabia in 1947. Initially, she worked as an assistant to Olga Osol, who was head of the applied arts department, but in 1950, she moved to the art department, where she remained until 1961. While researching the composition of ceramic clay and glazes, and firing techniques, she created works characterized by glaze expressions that leverage the texture of the materials and powerful forms created on the potter's wheel.

In 1956, she stayed in the United States and was exposed to the developing trends of studio ceramics, which is believed to have led to her subsequent free and powerful sculptural expressions.

Her works were highly acclaimed internationally, and at the Milan Triennale, she won a silver medal in 1951, an honorable mention in 1954, a Grand Prix in 1957, and a gold medal in 1960, winning awards at every exhibition she participated in.

During production, she left Arabia after an accident in which she injured her finger with a blade mixed into the clay, and from 1961, she became involved in ceramics education at a university in Taiwan. From 1963 until her death in 1981, she worked as an educator and researcher at the School of Art and Design and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

In 1974, she published her book "Keramiikka," which compiled her years of research and experience. This book, which systematically summarized ceramic materials, throwing techniques, clay and glaze mixing, and firing, had a significant impact on ceramics education and research in Finland.

Through her works, research, and educational activities, Salmenhaara left a significant mark on 20th-century Finnish ceramics.

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 in 1874. In 1916, it became independent from Rörstrand's capital and became a Finnish company.

In 1929, the world's largest tunnel kiln at the time, measuring 112 meters in length, 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 as art director, organizing 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 divisions – the art department, applied art department, and 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 acclaim from the 1930s onwards, contributing to Arabia's cultural aspect and playing an important role in the development of Finnish ceramics.

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

Ekholm, against the backdrop of functionalism spreading in the Nordic countries in the 1930s, unveiled 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, released in 1953, achieved great success as innovative modern design tableware characterized by its simple geometric forms and versatility.

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, received awards, establishing its global reputation.