Arabia Finel Bowl Set by Kaj Franck, Finland, 1960
View Similar Items
Arabia Finel Bowl Set by Kaj Franck, Finland, 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Arabia (Manufacturer),Kaj Franck (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 2.76 in (7 cm)Width: 6.3 in (16 cm)Depth: 6.3 in (16 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 7
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:Metal,Enameled
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Roosendaal, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU93304889873
Kaj Franck
Kaj Gabriel Franck was a leading figure in 20th-century Finnish design, specializing in ceramics and glass. As the creative director of Arabia Ceramics, now part of Iittala, he, along with fellow Finns Timo Sarpaneva and Tapio Wirkkala, helped popularize the bright, warm and curvy aesthetic of Scandinavian modernism. Design Forum Finland’s Kaj Franck Design Prize, established in 1992 and awarded each year around his birthday, is among the country’s most prestigious honors for designers.
Franck was born in 1911 in the city of Vyborg, which now belongs to Russia, but was then part of the Grand Duchy of Finland. He studied furniture design at the Central School of Industrial Design in Helsinki, and after graduating in 1932, worked as a catalogue illustrator for the Riihimäki glassworks, exploring interior and textile design on the side.
Having served in the Finnish armed forces during World War II, Franck joined Arabia in 1945 as their head of design. He remained with the company for many years, steering its line of tableware in a dynamic new direction. Franck professed an aversion to superfluous ornament. His ceramic designs were nevertheless complex and eye-catching, animated with playful, geometric forms. One of his most famous creations for Arabia was the Origami dish from the early 1960s, a glossy all-white serving piece resembling a subtly folded piece of paper with four shallow sections for holding food.
Although his Arabia ceramics became household staples for consumers in Scandinavia and beyond, Franck is better known among collectors for his glass designs, particularly those he created for Iittala starting in the late 1940s. In a 1947 Iittala-sponsored glass competition, Franck shared the top prize with Tapio Wirkkala. In 1950, he designed the company’s iconic Kartio series of pressed-glass pitchers and glasses, which came in different colors that consumers could “mix and match” rather than having to buy a homogeneous set. In 1977, Franck redesigned the series, renamed Teemaa.
Franck’s designs for Iittala embodied the Finnish concept of pelkistetty, which literally means “reduced” and in the design world refers to the pared-down, minimal qualities of modernism. This principle, evidenced in objects like his elegant, unfussy sets of jewel-toned drinking glasses from the 1960s, informed Franck’s view of the manufacturing process as well. Critical of mass production and consumerism, he was one of the country’s first professionals in his field to advocate recycling. He became known as the “conscience of Finnish design,” a role he embraced as a professor and later artistic director at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki.
In honor of Franck’s 100th birthday, in 2011, Iittala reissued Kartio glasses, Teema tableware and Purnukka jars, among other of his designs that retain their contemporary feel decades after their creation.
Find vintage Kaj Franck glass, vases and other furniture and decor on 1stDibs.
- Max Ingrand heart bowl Fontana Arte Italy 1960By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantBeautiful heart-shaped bowl designed by Max Ingrand and manufactured by Fontana Arte in Italy in 1960. High quality crystal glass in a stunning peach colour. Hilghly decorative piece...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGlass
- Alvar Aalto A808 floorlamp Valaistustyö Ky Finland 1955By Alvar AaltoLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantSuper rare and unique early 70s production of the A808 floor lamp designed by Alvar Aalto an manufactured by Valaistustyö Ky, Finland 1955. In completely original condition with unpo...Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Kids Rocker and Chairs Set, Italy, 1960By Ko Verzuu, ADOLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantHighly unusual and beautiful kids rocking toy which can be used as 2 chairs as well. Made by unknown designer or manufacturer, Italy 1960. This beautiful and ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
MaterialsPlastic, Wood
- Oak Hunting Coffee Table, Sweden, 1960By Uno & Östen KristianssonLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantStunning shaped so called 'hunting' coffee table made by unknown designer or manufactured but quality made which is visible all over. The table has a very nice dynamic shape, very ni...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsOak
- E Pedersen Sliding Coffee Bar Table Denmark 1960By E. Pedersen & SønLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantSuper stylish coffee table with sliding top and hidden bar which is manufactured by E. Pedersen & Son a-s, Denmark 1960. This coffee table has a sliding top which opens the bar part ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsLaminate, Plexiglass, Rosewood
- Arne Norell Merkur Lounge Chair, Sweden, 1960By Arne NorellLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantVery nice and comfortable Merkur lounge chair designed by Arne Norell and manufactured by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden, 1960. The chair has very nice olive green tufted leather cu...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Ash
- Kaj Franck, Arabia Finland, enamel bowl & original box, 1960s mid-century, superBy Kaj Franck, ArabiaLocated in London, GBKaj Franck, Finland (designer) (attr.) Arabia, Helsinki (manufacturer) Bowl, 1960s Enamelled metal with flower pattern decoration. Original box. Very good condition with only a fe...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls
MaterialsMetal, Enamel
- 1960s Kaj Franck for Arabia Finland White & Reb Lobsters Enamel BowlBy Kaj Franck, Arabia of FinlandLocated in Farmington Hills, MIWe are very pleased to offer a stunning bowl by Arabia, circa 1960s. One of Arabia's iconic lines is the "Arabia Finland" series, its pieces are some of the most sought-after collect...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Serving Bowls
MaterialsEnamel
- Set of three Orange-Red Enameled Bowls by Kaj Franck for Finel, Finland, 1960sBy Kaj Franck, FinelLocated in Steenwijk, NLA very nice set of three red-orange enameled bowls made by Kaj Franck for Finel, made in Finland in the 1960s. These bowls are in a very good condition with some signs of age and use...Category
Antique 1660s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsEnamel
- Kaj Franck, Finnish Designer Three Red Bowls in Enameled Metal, Finel, FinlandBy Kaj FranckLocated in Copenhagen, DKKaj Franck, Finnish designer. Three red bowls in enameled metal, Finel, Finland, 1950s. Diameter: 10-24 cm. In very good condition.Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Serving Bowls
$560 Sale Price / set20% Off - Kaj Franck, Arabia, Finland. "Tonttu" enamelled metal bowl. 1960sLocated in Copenhagen, DKKaj Franck for Arabia, Finland. "Tonttu" enamelled metal bowl, decorated with dancing gnomes. 1960s. In excellent condition with traces of use. Dimensions: D 16.0 cm. x H 10.0 cm.Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Serving Bowls
MaterialsMetal
- Kaj Franck for Arabia, Finland. "Tonttu" enamelled metal bowl. 1960sLocated in Copenhagen, DKKaj Franck for Arabia, Finland. "Tonttu" enamelled metal bowl, decorated with dancing gnomes. 1960s. In excellent condition with traces of use. Dimensions: D 16.0 cm. x H 10.0 cm.Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Serving Bowls
MaterialsMetal