Item No. ：MRLB017
Designer：Marita Lybeck
Maker：EMMEL
Size ：H:48mm φ:109:mm W:126:mm
This cup was handmade in her studio, EMMEL, and sold at ARTEK and Stockmann.
The name EMMEL comes from her initials, M and L.
It features a unique handle made from a bent round rod attached to a cup with soft curves reminiscent of the dawn of modern design, transitioning to a sharply rising rim.
Each piece bears the marks of being handmade, such as irregularities in the glaze applied to the red clay and slight distortions.
This is a very rare item.
*There are chips on the rim and foot.
Marita Lybeck was a Finnish female designer and ceramist.
Her brother was Nils-Gustav Hahl, an art historian and critic, and one of the founding members of ARTEK.
Through her brother, she interacted with key figures of the modernism movement of the time, and at the request of Aino Aalto, she designed ceramics and textiles for ARTEK.
She was responsible for the fabric of Alvar Aalto's furniture exhibited at the 1937 Paris World's Fair and some of the tableware for the SAVOY restaurant.
In 1947, she established her own studio, EMMEL. Using local red clay, she created tableware with simple forms, minimal decoration, and designs that allowed for free combination and stacking, all based on modern and innovative design principles, with the handmade touch of a craftsman.
In 1951, she held a solo exhibition titled "Form och funktion i rödlera (Form and Function in Red Clay)" at ARTEK, which was well-received. However, price competition with industrially mass-produced tableware, such as Kaj Franck's KILTA series, which shared similar design philosophies, intensified, and she closed her studio in 1957.
From 1957, she became the art director of KERA, a local pottery manufacturer that had produced ARTEK's ceramics before the establishment of EMMEL, and remained there until 1958.
Subsequently, she worked as a manager in the art and design department of the Stockmann department store in Helsinki.
She was awarded a silver medal at the 1954 Milan Triennale.
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This is a vintage/used item. When sourcing our products, we take the utmost care to select only those in good condition. While we do note any prominent damage or condition issues, such as scratches or stains, we do not list every small scratch that may have resulted from age or normal use. Please also note that the quality standards for manufacturing were not as high in the past as they are today. If you have any concerns, please inquire before placing your order. If there are no significant differences in condition between identical items, we may use only one product image. Please be aware that product images may vary in color from the actual item due to monitor settings.
