Kaipiainen cup & saucer

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Vintage Birger Kaipiainen cup & saucer

We’ve nominated this cup & saucer as the week’s favourite buy. It wasn’t particularly cheap so it didn’t get the nomination because it was a great bargain. Just simply because we absolutely love the pattern… and its extra large size which makes it perfect for a café latte or hot chocolate.

Vintage Birger Kaipiainen cup & saucer showing women's faces

You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce who designed it, as the name is clearly incorporated into the pattern of stylised figures on the side.

Vintage Arabia cup & saucer showing Birger Kaipiainen's name on the bottom rim

It’s the work of Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988) who worked at Arabia Pottery of Finland for nearly 50 years.

Arabia pottery stamp

He became an honorary professor in 1977 and was referred to as both the King of Decorators and Prince of Ceramics by contemporaries.

Detail view of Birger Kaipiainen cup & saucer

Despite stretching the budget for a cup & saucer, we certainly weren’t going to leave this fabulous example of vintage Scandinavian ceramics behind!

Gimme Five! Mugs

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selection of 5 ceramic mugs

We’ve been doing our thrice daily dog walks in some pretty atrocious weather of late. The kettle goes on straight away when we walk through the door! A choice of nice mugs can only enhance that reviving hot brew.

Here are a few lovely examples that caught our eye in a quick trawl of the web’s offerings.

  1. Periodic table of elements ceramic mug: £9.95, Amazon
  2. Orla Kiely bird mug: £9, John Lewis
  3. Apple mug, large: £16, Scandinavian Design Center
  4. Hold Tight bone china mug – mustard: £8, Mini Moderns
  5. Fishs Eddy Painted Bunting bird mug: £13.95, Liberty