Arabia (brand)

History

Founded as a subsidiary of the Swedish porcelain producer Rörstrand on November 25, 1873, the Arabia brand has gone through numerous ownership changes since its founding.

Carl-Gustaf Herlitz, formerly an employee of Rörstrand, was recruited in 1881 to serve as the technical director. The limited company Arabia Aktiefabrik was founded in 1885, to which Herlitz was appointed managing director in 1893. A couple of years later in the 1890s, Thure Öberg was poached from Röstrand and become the company's first artist. Öberg worked in Arabia until his death in 1935.

In 1916, the company was transferred to Finnish ownership, and Herlitz's son Carl-Gustaf Herlitz took over the position of CEO until 1947. Over the course of his tenure, the company expanded and became the largest in the Nordic region. From 1947 to 1990, Arabia was owned by Wärtsilä Oy, and in 1990 was sold to Hackman. Today, the Arabia brand is owned by the Iittala Group, which broke away from Hackman, and in 2007 was taken over by Fiskars.

Kurt Ekholm was appointed artistic director of Arabia's art department in 1932, pioneering innovative tableware design. For a time, the company employed over 1,500 employees, and was the largest porcelain factory in Europe. They also produced toilet seats in Helsinki's Arabianranta and Ekenäs between 1874 and 1992. On March 18, 2016, production of the ceramics factory in Fishers was stopped and moved abroad.

Noted designers

• Ulla Procopé
• Esteri Tomula
• Kaj Franck
• Toini Muona
• Heikki Orvola
• Birger Kaipiainen
• Friedl Kjellberg
• Mona Morales-Schildt
• Kyllikki Salmenhaara
• (1923–2004)
• (1944–2010)
• Heljä Liukko-Sundström (1938–2024)
• Kaarina Aho (1925–1990)
• Richard Lindh (1929–2006)
• Tove Slotte

File:Arabian vanha tehdasrakennus.jpg|Old Arabia factory building in Helsinki File:Arabia Store Helsinki.jpg|Arabia Store on Pohjoisesplanadi, Helsinki File:Arabia Store inside.jpg|Inside Arabia Store in Helsinki File:Manifattura arabia, vaso della serie Fennia, helsinki 1902 ca. 02.JPG|Arabia Fennia vase (1902) File:Manifattura arabia, vaso della serie Fennia, helsinki 1902 ca. 01.JPG|Another example of a Fennia vase (1902) File:Arabia (musée du design, Helsinki).jpg|Arabia pieces in the Helsinki design museum File:Kilta.jpg|Kilta receptacle set (1953) File:Arabia Aurinkoruusu-sarjan lautanen, Malli AR, suunnittelija Kaarina Aho 1957. Aurinkoruusu-koriste, suunnittelija Hilkka-Liisa Ahola 1958.jpg|Kaarina Aho design (1957) File:Arabia Paratiisi.jpg|An Arabia brand Paratiisi series File:Arabia teekannu Taika.jpg|Teapot Taika (1970s) File:Procope-kynttilanjalka.jpg|Candle holder by Ulla Procopé

References

References

1. (2008-01-21). "Ulla Procopé at Arabia from 1948-1966". Finnguide.
2. (23 March 2016). "Perinteikäs Arabian keramiikkatehdas lopetti – Mitä tapahtuu tehdaskorttelille?".
3. "Arabia".
4. Nokela, Leena: Suomen linnoja. ''Kotiliesi'' 18/1975, page. 84.
5. "Arabian tehtaan käyttökeramiikkaa".
6. Otavan Iso tietosanakirja, Otava (1968), osa 3, p. 654.
7. (29 June 2007). "Pörssitiedote: Fiskars ostaa littala Groupin".
8. (2017-07-10). "Arabia sen aloitti – suomalainen takapuoli on luottanut kotimaiseen posliiniin jo toistasataa vuotta".
9. (2016-03-23). "Perinteikäs Arabian keramiikkatehdas lopetti – Mitä tapahtuu tehdaskorttelille?".
10. "Arabia Designers".