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 Huge Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, Rörstrand 1950s
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
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
A Huge Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, 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
A Sizeable Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, 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...
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics
Materials
Faience
Unique Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
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.
...
Category
1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Birger Kaipiainen, Ceramic Sculpture "Three Graces", 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
Birger Kaipiainen Large Decorative Ceramic Dish, Arabia
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
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...
Category
1970s Finnish Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic, Beads
Birger Kaipiainen, Large Decorative Ceramic Plate, Arabia
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
Birger Kaipiainen, Decorative Ceramic Plate, Arabia
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
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
Dish Designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Dish designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia,
Finland, 1970s.
Stoneware.
Unique.
Signed "KAIPIAINEN ARABIA"
Dimensions:
L: 42 cm / 1'...
Category
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Ceramics
Materials
Stoneware
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Birger Kaipiainen (Pori 1915-Helsinki 1988) was a Swedish, finish ceramist and designer. He is one of the most successful and well-known ceramic artists in Finland.
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Unique Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
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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.