<!--thumb|Arabia Finland logo-->

thumb|Arabia Ruska, by [[Ulla Procopé]]

thumb|Arabia designers in 1953: [[Kaarina Aho (left), Saara Hopea, Ulla Procopé and Kaj Franck]]

thumb| and [[Esteri Tomula at the Arabian ceramics factory in 1957]]

Arabia was a Finnish ceramics company, founded in 1873 by Rörstrand, now owned by Fiskars. Arabia has specialized in faience and porcelain kitchenware and tableware.

The original Arabia porcelain factory was located in Toukola (Helsinki). It later housed the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Ulla Procopé, Esteri Tomula, Birger Kaipiainen and Kaj Franck were among the best-known artists and designers for the company.

In 1990 the company was acquired by Hackman and was incorporated into the Hackman trademark. In 2016 the Arabia factory in Finland closed. All Arabia products are now made in Thailand and Romania.

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.

In 1916, the company was transferred to Finnish ownership, and Herlitz's son Carl-Gustaf Herlitz took over the position of CEO until 1947. 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. 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

<gallery>

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

</gallery>

See also

  • Arabianranta
  • Porcelain manufacturing companies in Europe

References

  • Arabia website
  • Arabia history - profile at FinnishDesign.com