Skip to main content

Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

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)

to
4
4
2
2
1
1
2
2
4
2
1
4
4
2
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
4
4
4
11
1,389
729
495
447
Creator: Birger Kaipiainen
Birger Kaipiainen Ceramic Plate with Flower and Beaded Detailing Rörstrand
By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand
Located in Stockholm, SE
This beautifully glazed stoneware plate, measuring 25 x 23 cm, is a stunning example of Birger Kaipiainen’s artistry, featuring intricate bead details and a lustrous glaze. The decor...
Category

1980s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Glazed stoneware sculpture with motifs
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Glazed stoneware dish/sculpture with motifs in shades of green and black. Circa 1955. Signed.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Ceramic Table Clock, Flower and Beeds, Arabia 1970s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
Birger Kaipiainen had a thing for clock´s. Frequently in his decorative dishes he had clock`s that were always pointing to 12:15. Now here is the whole thing. In perfect working orde...
Category

Late 20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Large Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand in Limited Edition 294/500
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Exceptional and beautiful large platter designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand in limited edition, number 294/500. Decor with apples, plums and bunches of grapes. Birger Kaipiainen has been called "the master of ceramics" and "the undisputed ruler of decorative art". Highlights of iridescent glaze. The platter is in mint condition. No sign of use. Birger Kaipiainen began his career at the Arabia Art Department in 1937 and quickly found his own way to make art. The soon-to-begin Winter War and several losses in his personal life cast a dark shadow over the beginning of his artistic career, and this manifested as sadness and longing in his early works. They are dominated by ethereal, fairy-tale-like characters depicted in pastel tones, with references to early Italian Renaissance and longing for a more beautiful world. 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...
Category

1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Stoneware

Related Items
1970s Ritz Italora Original Table Clock by Joe Colombo Optic Art
By Joe Colombo
Located in Biella, IT
Ritz Italora rare original table clock first edit by Joe Colombo design years 1970 optic art. Materialis plastic and metal particular and mecanism. ...
Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Tiffany and Co. Square Brass Desk Clock, 1970s
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Handsome 8 day, Swiss jeweled Tiffany and Co. square desk clock in patinated brass with stepped dial frame and two-tiered base. Face pivots between f...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Blue Ceramic Bowl Carl-Harry Stålhane, Rörstrand, Vintage Midcentury
By Rörstrand, Carl-Harry Stålhane
Located in Stockholm, SE
A lovely blue bowl designed by Carl-Harry Stålhane at Rörstrand, the bowl is 19 x 13.5 cm in diameter. It is in excellent condition except from some minor marks on the inside. The bowl is marked as 1st quality. Carl-Harry Stålhane is one of the top names when it comes to Mid century Scandinavian...
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Red Seiko Navy Wall Clock, 1970s
By Seiko
Located in Kojetice, CZ
Vintage Seiko navy slave clock designed during the 1970s and produced till 1990s. These clocks were used on large Japanese tankers and cargo ships. It fe...
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Industrial Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Vintage Brutalist Standing Clock, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage sculpted brutalist design grandfather clock made from resin and wood. The clock is illuminated on the inside and has a fully working mechanism. The piece was made in be...
Category

1970s Belgian Brutalist Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Resin, Wood

Vintage Brutalist Standing Clock, 1970s
Vintage Brutalist Standing Clock, 1970s
H 75.2 in W 14.18 in D 16.15 in
Vintage Clock, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Clock is a decorative object realized in 1970s. A vintage plastic clock. The perfect gift for a jump to the past. Not in a perfect con...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Clock, 1970s
Vintage Clock, 1970s
H 10.63 in W 1.97 in D 11.82 in
Vintage Alarm Clock, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Alarm Clock is a decorative object realized in the 1970s. A vintage clock light blue colored. The perfect gift for a jump to the past. N...
Category

1970s European Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Vintage Alarm Clock, 1970s
Vintage Alarm Clock, 1970s
H 3.94 in W 1.78 in D 3.35 in
Vintage Green Seiko Ships Wall Clock, 1970s
By Seiko
Located in Kojetice, CZ
Vintage Seiko maritime slave clock designed during the 1970s and produced till 1990s. These clocks were used on large Japanese tankers and cargo ships. It features a light green meta...
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Industrial Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand Stoneware Bowl
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A heavy and well executed bowl designed by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand. Features dramatic colors in earth tones.
Category

1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Brass Cylindric Table Desk Clock by Ferdinando Loffredo, Italy, 1970s
By Ferdinando Loffredo
Located in Rome, IT
Cylindric table and desk clock in brass by the Italian designer Ferdinando Loffredo made in Italy in the 1970s. The clock is not functioning, it is sold as a decorative object. His...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Brass

Modernist Table / Desk Clock by Junghans, Germany, 1970s
By Junghans Uhren GmbH
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Simple and elegant design with brass detailing. Designed and manufactured by Junghans during the 1970s. The Quartz movement is operated by a single AA battery. The cabinet/body is ma...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Concrete, Brass

Vintage Beige MRC Ship’s Wall Clock, 1970s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
Vintage MRC ( Marine Radio Co. Ltd. ) maritime slave clock made in South Korea during the 1970s. These clocks were used on large Korean tankers and cargo ships. It features a beige m...
Category

1970s Korean Industrial Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Chrome, Iron

Previously Available Items
Large Birger Kaipiainen Ceramic Wall Piece for Arabia, Mint Condition
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Kansas City, MO
Very large Birger Kaipiainen ceramic wall sculpture. Condition is virtually perfect. Stunning Mid-Century Modern design.
Category

1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Big Decorative Ceramic Plate 'Viola 1967" -Arabia Finland- by Birger Kaipiainen
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Turku, FI
Decorative ceramic plate marked 'Viola 1967, Arabia Finland, Kaipiainen Invenit', numbered 917/3000. Design by Birger Kaipiainen (Finland, 1915-1988). Viola (a flower, violet in Latin) features a beautiful black and blue glazing on a viola-shaped wall plate. “Sea of Violets” was the artwork by Kaipiainen for Expo 67...
Category

1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Dish by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1970’s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stoneware. Unique. Measures: D: 25.5 cm/ 10" H: 4 cm/ 1 1/2".
Category

1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Sculpture Designed by Birger Kaipianen for Arabia, Finland, 1970’s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stoneware. Signed. Measures: H: 21 cm/ 8 1/4" D: 15 cm/ 6".
Category

1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Monumental Dish Designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Monumental dish designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland. 1960s. Stoneware. Measurements: L: 70.5 cm/ 2' 4'' H: 49.5 cm/ 19 1/2''
Category

1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Wall Sculpture Designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Unique. Provenance: Kurt Ekholm (1907-1975), Art Director at Arabia from 1932 to 1948 Literature: Kaipiainen, Maria Berg, similar models p. 48-49.
Category

1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Birger Kaipiainen decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Birger Kaipiainen decorative objects 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 decorative objects, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects 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 decorative objects by Pertti Santalahti, Raija Uosikkinen, and Tapio Wirkkala. Prices for Birger Kaipiainen decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,514 and can go as high as $23,480, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,539.

Recently Viewed

View All