Tag: Finnish design

Designer Desire: Tamara Aladin

Collage of Tamara Aladin art glass for Riihimäen Lasi Oy | H is for Home

We’ve had quite a few vases designed by Tamara Aladin over the years. In fact, we have a couple in our web shop at the moment. We’ve mentioned her work in general round-ups before, but never actually given her a post of her own. What I’d love, is to own a collection of them – all different shapes – in the deep green colourway. I’d display them on a windowsill where the sunlight can shine through, showing them off to their best.

Aladin worked for glass manufacturers, Riihimäen Lasi Oy between 1959 and 1976. She produced over 150 designs, mostly for the export market, especially Germany. Her designs include Kehrä (light blue, bottom trio), Kleopatra (red, centre, 2nd from bottom row), Presto, Rondella and Tornado (jade green, left, 3rd from bottom row).

2010 saw the centenary of the Riihimäki company which was commemorated by a book and exhibition at the Finnish Glass Museum.

A Russian speaker, she was once a Finnair flight attendant on the Moscow route where she also acted as interpreter for communications between the pilots and air traffic control. As well as Russian, Aladin spoke English, Swedish and German.

Tamara Aladin still lives in Hamina, 145km east of Helsinki.

There are always examples of her work available to buy on eBay and Etsy.

Portrait of Tamara Aladin with a glass-blowercredit

Additional image credits:

20th Century Glass | Bukowskis | Designlasi | Pinterest

Designer Desire: Kaija Aarikka

Mosaic of Kaija Aarikka designs | H is for Home Portrait of Kaija Aarikkacredit

I can’t go more than a few weeks before I’m back across to Scandinavia for a Designer Desire instalment. Kaija Aarikka (1929-2014) began her creative career designing and carving wooden buttons whilst attending Helsinki University of Technology.

Not much later, in 1954, she and her husband founded their own company, Aarikka Oy. They produced mainly wooden jewellery and small wooden ornaments. You can see the progression from the earlier button-making in the beads she used in her later designs.

I love her cute animal figures that she designed using these beads – the plain and multi-coloured rams and different types of birds. These, like her jewellery that she made using wood and often non-precious metals, are very affordable. Find examples on eBay and Etsy.

Additional image credits:
Bukowskis

Designer Desire: Heikki Orvola

Mosaic of Heikki Orvola designs | H is for Home

Heikki Orvola (b.1943) is at the vanguard of Finnish design. He works primarily in glass and ceramics and has produced designs for Notsjö Nuutajärvi, Arabia, Marimekko and Iittala. In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Kaj Franck prize.

His designs are readily available on Etsy, eBay and the Scandinavian Design Center.

Portrait of Heikki Orvolacredit

Additional image credits:

1stDibs | Bukowskis | Invaluable

Designer Desire: Kaj Franck

Mosaic of Kaj Franck designs | H is for Home

What? We’ve never featured Kaj Franck on Designer Desire before? How did that happen?!

We have some of his designs in our home and in our shop. So far, we own a ‘Muki’ mug decorated with Raija Uosikkinen’s ‘Lintu’ pattern and a large ‘Kulho’ bowl with Esteri Tomula’s ‘Tatti’ mushrooms pattern (6th from top, on the left).

The one design on his wares that I really, really desire is ‘Sydän’, the red hearts on white enamelware range (3rd from top, on the right). This pattern was designed by Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist. I’ve seen it on bowls, plates, kettles, jugs and mugs – but the condition and price has never been right.

Kaj Franck (1911-1989) was one of the leading modernist Finnish designers working in glass, ceramics, enamel and metalware. He was artistic director at Arabia (now Iittala) and produced many of their designs as well as ones for their subsidiary company, Finel. He also designed many pieces for glassware company, Notsjö Nuutajärvi.

After researching Franck’s back catalogue, we realised that there’s a similar scenario to the design collaboration between Cathrineholm designers Grete Prytz Kittelsen and Arne Clausen. One person designed the vessel (which was Franck’s domain) and others, such as Esteri Tomula and Raija Uosikkinen, produced the applied pattern.

Some of his popular ranges – such as Teema crockery, Scandia Cutlery and Kartio glassware – are still being manufactured and are available from the Scandinavian Design Center and Finnish Design Shop. I prefer his more colourful, more interesting vintage designs which are always available on eBay, Etsy, Pamono and Bukowskis.

There’s a book on Franck that I’d love to buy, or failing that, have a flick through entitled Kaj Franck – Muotoilija / Formgivare / Designer, currently on sale at around the £100 mark.

Portrait of Kaj Franckcredit

Additional image credits:
1st Dibs | Bukowskis