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Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics

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
A Sizeable Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, Standing Lady, Rörstrand 1950s
By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand
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...
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics

Materials

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 Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

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...
Category

1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics

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...
Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Beads

Ceramic by Birger Kaipiainen
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Zurich, CH
Beautiful unique plate by Birger Kaipiainen, showing his typical iridescent glaze, vibrant colors, floral motives and pearl applications all together
Category

1960s European Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics

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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 Ceramics

Materials

Faience

Unique ceramic plate by Birger Kaipiainen
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Zurich, CH
beautiful work by finnish ceramicist birger kaipiainen who was famous for his unique platters working with various techniques and colors, focussing on botanical motives - here shown ...
Category

1970s Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, 9 Women & a Rose, Rörstrand 1950s
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
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 Ceramics

Materials

Faience

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Birger Kaipiainen Large Decorative Ceramic Dish Golden Lyre & Blues, Arabia 1979
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Birger Kaipiainen Tray
Birger Kaipiainen Tray
W 12.6 in D 9.85 in

Birger Kaipiainen ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Birger Kaipiainen ceramics 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 ceramics, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original ceramics by Birger Kaipiainen were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in finland during the 1970s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider ceramics by Arabia of Finland, and Arabia. Prices for Birger Kaipiainen ceramics can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $9,790 and can go as high as $28,110, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $19,239.

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