Arabia is a Finnish ceramics company, specializing in kitchenware and tableware, founded in 1873 by Rörstrand, and currently owned by Fiskars. The original Arabia porcelain factory was located in Toukola (Helsinki). It later housed the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. In 2016 the Arabia factory in Finland closed. All Arabia products are now made in Thailand and Romania.
Rörstrand established their factory on a plot of land called Arabia in Helsinki in order to increase their access to the Russian market. In the beginning, Arabia produced undecorated domestic faience, sanitary ware, and large transfer ware dinner services. The First World War brought a change of ownership, with Finish buyers taking control in 1916. Over the next five years, the factory was completely modernized to expand production. In 1932, Kurt Ekholm was appointed Artistic Director to build up Arabia's Art Department and introduce new lines of tableware. In 1945 Kaj Franck was hired by Arabia to further develop product design. Despite the effects of World War II, Arabia was able to continue to grow and employed over 2,000 people in 1947. Rapid expansion and high inflation led to financial problems, leading to Arabia being acquired by Wärtsilä Corporation. Arabia's artists received growing international recognition during this period, including winning numerous prizes at Milan Triennales in the 1950s.
Among the most prominent of artists who worked at Arabia at this time was Francesca Mascitti Lindh. Francesca Mascitti was born in 1931 and trained in Italy at the Liceo Artistico in 1946-48, after which she went to Finland to complete here training in Helsinki at the Institute of Industrial Arts (1949-52). She went to work at Arabia thereafter and stayed on until 1989, establishing herself as one of Finland's leading ceramic artists. She married another Arabia artist, Richard Lindh, and the two exhibited successfully in Finland and abroad. Among her awards was an honorable mention at the Milan Triennale of 1957. Her work is also currently featured in an important exhibition on 20th century Finnish ceramics and glassware at EMMA in Espoo, Finland.
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About the seller: I have been collecting art pottery for more than 30 years. The bulk of my collection is Danish stoneware from the 1920s into the 1970s. The bulk of my Danish collection consists of Arne Bang, Saxbo, Jais Nielsen, Nils Thorsson, Erik Hjorth, and Ejvind Nielsen. I have done extensive research on these and other artists and workshops and would be happy to share that with interested buyers. I also have substantial collections of American, French, Belgian and other 20th century northern European art pottery. Over the coming months I will be listing a wide range of pieces from my collection. Please check out my other listings and add me to your list of saved sellers to receive notification of new listings.