Birger Kaipiainen

Finnish, 1915-1988

Birger Kaipiainen was a Finnish ceramist and designer. He is one of the most successful and well-known ceramic artists in Finland.

Kaipiainen graduated from the School of Arts & Crafts (later known as the Aalto School of Arts of Helsinki). After graduation he went to work for Finnish ceramics company Arabia in 1937, and later in 1954 for their Swedish sister company Rörstrand.

Kaipiainen worked as a designer for Arabia for over fifty years. As a child he suffered from polio and was consequently unable to use a pottery wheel. It was said that his illness heightened his artistic sensitivity.

Kaipiainen was nicknamed “the king of decorators” for his nostalgic, romantic and highly decorative ceramic designs at a time when minimalism was the prevailing trend in Finnish ceramics. He is known for repeatedly using the same signature nature-inspired motifs, such as violets and curlews.

The recipient of many awards, honorary titles, and a doctorate, Kaipiainen won a Grand Prix at the Triennale di Milano in 1951 and was awarded the prestigious Pro Finlandia medal in 1963.

Find vintage Birger Kaipiainen ceramics, decorative objects and more on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by Connaisseurs Fine Art & Jewelry)

Average Sold Price

$2,491

Styles

Materials

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Birger Kaipiainen, Very Large Ceramic Plate, Red Blue with Beeds, Arabia 1970s

$66,789

H 22.45 in W 24.41 in D 5.12 in

Birger Kaipiainen, Very Large Ceramic Plate, Red Blue with Beeds, Arabia 1970s

By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia

Located in Helsinki, FI

Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988) was the master of decorative ceramics. He was well known for his rich and colourful ornamental dishes, with themes from the fantasy world and fairytales...

Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Ceramic

Large Surreal Green Garden Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief Rörstrand 1950s

$9,486

H 16.15 in W 19.3 in D 2.96 in

Large Surreal Green Garden Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief Rörstrand 1950s

By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand

Located in Helsinki, FI

A rare and beautiful wall relief featuring hand-painted flowers & women, designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand and manufactured in Sweden in the 1950s. Kaipiainen spent only 4 ...

Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Faience

Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Plate in Yellow Blue, & Beeds, Arabia 1970s

$10,454

H 12.21 in W 14.18 in D 1.97 in

Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Plate in Yellow Blue, & Beeds, Arabia 1970s

By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia

Located in Helsinki, FI

This is a beautiful unique ceramic plate decorated with multiple beadings and it is a good example of the artists skill to use colours and fine iridescent glaze dots and details on t...

Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Ceramic, Beads

Unique Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s

$42,348

H 1.58 in W 22.05 in D 16.93 in

Unique Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s

By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia

Located in Stockholm, SE

Striking unique stoneware platter by Birger Kaipiainen. Beautiful composition with silvery apples on a white background, as well as black currant berries and blue grapes in relief. ...

Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Ceramic

Birger Kaipiainen, Very Large Ceramic Plate, Plums and Berries, Arabia 1970s

$62,917

H 22.45 in W 25.6 in D 5.12 in

Birger Kaipiainen, Very Large Ceramic Plate, Plums and Berries, Arabia 1970s

By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia

Located in Helsinki, FI

Birger Kaipiainen (1915–1988) is celebrated as a master of decorative ceramics, renowned for his richly colored and ornamental works. Drawing from fantasy and fairytales, his art sto...

Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Metal

Birger Kaipiainen "Duetto" Decorative Dish in Black & Gold Beads, Arabia 1980s

$4,065

H 14.38 in W 16.54 in D 1.97 in

Birger Kaipiainen "Duetto" Decorative Dish in Black & Gold Beads, Arabia 1980s

By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia

Located in Helsinki, FI

This is a beautiful ceramic plate decorated with multiple black and gold beadings and it is a good example of the artists skill to use colours and fine iridescent glaze dots and deta...

Category

1980s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Ceramic, Beads

Unique Birger Kaipiainen Ceramic Plate in Luster Blues & Red with Beeds, Arabia

$25,941

H 2.76 in Dm 18.12 in

Unique Birger Kaipiainen Ceramic Plate in Luster Blues & Red with Beeds, Arabia

By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia

Located in Helsinki, FI

Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988) was the master of decorative ceramics at the Arabia factory in Finland. He was well known for his ornamental dishes that were rich, colourful and with themes from the fantasy world and fairytales, which actually fought against the idealism of the minimalistic movements in 1950s. Kaipiainen introduced ceramic beads to his art in the 60s' and the surface of the object became more important for Kaipianen´s art. This beautiful unique ceramic plate...

Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Ceramic, Beads

Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Ananas & 4 leaf Clover Dish, Arabia, 1960s

$7,017

H 10.04 in W 16.54 in D 1.97 in

Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Ananas & 4 leaf Clover Dish, Arabia, 1960s

By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia

Located in Helsinki, FI

A beautiful and unique ceramic plate designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia in Finland in the late 1950s - 1960s. The plate features a purple ananas filled with four-leaf clovers, ...

Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen

Materials

Ceramic

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Birger Kaipiainen Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Material

Creation Year

2025

$2,088

Decorative Art

Ceramic, Beads

1980-1983

$2,491

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$2,491-$2,491

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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Birger Kaipiainen furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Birger Kaipiainen furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Birger Kaipiainen furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Birger Kaipiainen were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in finland during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Friedl Holzer-Kjellberg, Rut Bryk, and Saara Hopea-Untracht. Prices for Birger Kaipiainen furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $966 and can go as high as $28,110, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,689.

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