Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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)
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Creator: Birger Kaipiainen
Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Dish, Yellow Butterfly & Blooms, Arabia 1980
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful unique ceramic plate designed by Birger Kaipianen for Arabia in Finland in the late 1970s early 80s. The dish is quite sizable and decorated in bright yellow depiction of...
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1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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A Sizeable Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, Standing Lady, Rörstrand 1950s
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
A rare and beautiful wall relief featuring a beautifully hand-painted woman, designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand and manufactured in Sweden in the 1950s. Kaipiainen spent onl...
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1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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Faience
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Ceramic
Unique Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Stockholm, SE
Amazing, unique stoneware platter by Birger Kaipiainen. Beautiful composition with deep red poppy flowers with seeds in relief in the center and butteflies scattered on the petals.
...
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1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Ceramic
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...
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1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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Ceramic, Beads
Unique Birger Kaipiainen, Blue Ceramic Sculpture "Three Graces", Rörstrand 1950s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988) was the master of decorative ceramics, known for his ornamental dishes, rich, colourful and with themes from the fantasy world and fairytales, which fought against idealism of minimalism in 1950s. He was inspired by the early Renaissance, Byzantine ornamentation and Orthodox art...
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1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Ceramic
Large Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, 9 Women & a Rose, Rörstrand 1950s
By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand
Located in Helsinki, FI
A rare and beautiful wall relief featuring different beautifully hand-painted portraits of women, designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand and manufactured in Sweden in the 1950s....
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Faience
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Faience
Large Platter, Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand 103/500
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Large Platter, design Birger Kaipiainen, manufactured by Rörstrand limited edition 103/500, Mid 20th Century, porcelain, good vintage condition, minor patina consistent with age and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
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Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Dish, with Fkowers & Fruits, Arabia 1970s
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This is a beautiful unique ceramic plate decorated with a central sunflower and multiple plums and flowers. It is a good example of the artists skill to use colors and fine iridesce...
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Birger Kaipiainen, rare 1930's metal tray for Kotiliesi
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Introducing a rare and exquisite piece of art, a metal tray hand-painted with a unique design by renowned artist Birger Kaipiainen. The tray was originally created for Kotiliesi post...
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Birger Kaipiainen Large Decorative Ceramic Dish Golden Lyre & Blues, Arabia 1979
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Birger Kaipiainen saw the world through a surreal and symbolic filter that made it more joyful, flowerful, and certainly more colourful.
However, during times of grief, as when he lost his wife Maggi in 1966, he turned to blues, blacks and violets.
Another such period was when Kaipiainen lost his dear friend, the Marimekko's founder and designer, Armi Ratia in 1979.
Birger and Armi used to spend a lot of time at her legendary Bökars Mansion that had a wonderful veranda adorned with columns and chandeliers.
Armi's loss was reflected in a few of Kaipiainen's works from that period. In those works (see last pics of dishes from the book Kaipiainen by Maria Berg) his interpretation of the duality of life and death was obvious. Also the symbolism bridging the two was present (reflection, bridges, boats, flowing waters). We can also see pansy flowers that he frequently used after the loss of his wife.
In this unique dish, Kaipiainen used a lot of the above colours and elements, and just as Armi was the soul of their legendary parties, he introduced the golden harp...
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Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
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Located in Stockholm, SE
Unique stoneware platter by Birger Kaipiainen in an oval form. Striking motif of red flowers encircling a large seed pod with a graphic pattern in golden tones. Round seeds in the ce...
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Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Beautiful, unique stoneware platter by Birger Kaipiainen in an oval form. Motif of a pale yellow poppy with black round seeds in relief, contrasting in a suggestive way against a dar...
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1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
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Dish Designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia
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Dish designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia,
Finland, 1970s.
Stoneware.
Unique.
Signed "KAIPIAINEN ARABIA"
Dimensions:
L: 42 cm / 1'...
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Birger Kaipiainen serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.
Birger Kaipiainen serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Oiva Toikka, Friedl Holzer-Kjellberg, and Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist. Prices for Birger Kaipiainen serveware, ceramics, silver and glass can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $4,359 and can go as high as $28,110, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,790.