Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Finnish, 1915-1988
Birger Kaipiainen was a Finnish ceramist and designer. He is one of the most successful and well-known ceramic artists in Finland.
Kaipiainen graduated from the School of Arts & Crafts (later known as the Aalto School of Arts of Helsinki). After graduation he went to work for Finnish ceramics company Arabia in 1937, and later in 1954 for their Swedish sister company Rörstrand.
Kaipiainen worked as a designer for Arabia for over fifty years. As a child he suffered from polio and was consequently unable to use a pottery wheel. It was said that his illness heightened his artistic sensitivity.
Kaipiainen was nicknamed “the king of decorators” for his nostalgic, romantic and highly decorative ceramic designs at a time when minimalism was the prevailing trend in Finnish ceramics. He is known for repeatedly using the same signature nature-inspired motifs, such as violets and curlews.
The recipient of many awards, honorary titles, and a doctorate, Kaipiainen won a Grand Prix at the Triennale di Milano in 1951 and was awarded the prestigious Pro Finlandia medal in 1963.
Find vintage Birger Kaipiainen ceramics, decorative objects and more on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Connaisseurs Fine Art & Jewelry)
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Creator: Birger Kaipiainen
A Sizeable Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief, Standing Lady, Rörstrand 1950s
By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand
Located in Helsinki, FI
A rare and beautiful wall relief featuring a beautifully hand-painted woman, designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand and manufactured in Sweden in the 1950s. Kaipiainen spent onl...
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Faience
Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Dish, Yellow Butterfly & Blooms, Arabia 1980
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful unique ceramic plate designed by Birger Kaipianen for Arabia in Finland in the late 1970s early 80s. The dish is quite sizable and decorated in bright yellow depiction of...
Category
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Birger Kaipiainen "Duetto" Decorative Dish in Black & Gold Beads, Arabia 1980s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
This is a beautiful ceramic plate decorated with multiple black and gold beadings and it is a good example of the artists skill to use colours and fine iridescent glaze dots and deta...
Category
1980s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Beads
Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Plate in Yellow Blue, & Beeds, Arabia 1970s
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Helsinki, FI
This is a beautiful unique ceramic plate decorated with multiple beadings and it is a good example of the artists skill to use colours and fine iridescent glaze dots and details on t...
Category
1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Beads
Unique Birger Kaipiainen, Blue Ceramic Sculpture "Three Graces", Rörstrand 1950s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988) was the master of decorative ceramics, known for his ornamental dishes, rich, colourful and with themes from the fantasy world and fairytales, which fought against idealism of minimalism in 1950s. He was inspired by the early Renaissance, Byzantine ornamentation and Orthodox art...
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Birger Kaipiainen, Very Large Ceramic Plate, Red Blue with Beeds, Arabia 1970s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988) was the master of decorative ceramics. He was well known for his rich and colourful ornamental dishes, with themes from the fantasy world and fairytales...
Category
1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Unique Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Stockholm, SE
Amazing, unique stoneware platter by Birger Kaipiainen. Beautiful composition with deep red poppy flowers with seeds in relief in the center and butteflies scattered on the petals.
...
Category
1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Unique Birger Kaipiainen Ceramic Plate in Luster Blues & Red with Beeds, Arabia
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
Birger Kaipiainen (1915-1988) was the master of decorative ceramics at the Arabia factory in Finland. He was well known for his ornamental dishes that were rich, colourful and with themes from the fantasy world and fairytales, which actually fought against the idealism of the minimalistic movements in 1950s.
Kaipiainen introduced ceramic beads to his art in the 60s' and the surface of the object became more important for Kaipianen´s art.
This beautiful unique ceramic plate...
Category
1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Beads
A Pair of Birger Kaipiainen 'Pansy' Limited Edition Table Lamps, Arabia 1980s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
A pair of limited edition table lamps designed by Birger Kaipiainen for the Stockmann 120 year anniversary in 1982. Manufactured by Arabia OY in Finland. A very nice pair in impeccab...
Category
1980s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Fabric
Birger Kaipiainen, Unique Piece, Wall Plate, Arabia, 1940s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description:
The Birger Kaipianen wall plate on offer is a unique and rare piece made in his early period. Birger Kaipiainen was designer who worked on the design "Palatissi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Earthenware, Ceramic
Large Platter, Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand 103/500
By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Large Platter, design Birger Kaipiainen, manufactured by Rörstrand limited edition 103/500, Mid 20th Century, porcelain, good vintage condition, minor patina consistent with age and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Birger Kaipiainen Ceramic Plate with Flower and Beaded Detailing Rörstrand
By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand
Located in Stockholm, SE
This beautifully glazed stoneware plate, measuring 25 x 23 cm, is a stunning example of Birger Kaipiainen’s artistry, featuring intricate bead details and a lustrous glaze. The decor...
Category
1980s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Large Surreal Green Garden Birger Kaipiainen Faience Wall Relief Rörstrand 1950s
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
A rare and beautiful wall relief featuring hand-painted flowers & women, designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand and manufactured in Sweden in the 1950s. Kaipiainen spent only 4 ...
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Faience
Large Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand in Limited Edition 294/500
By Birger Kaipiainen, Rörstrand
Located in Stockholm, SE
Exceptional and beautiful large platter designed by Birger Kaipiainen for Rörstrand in limited edition, number 294/500. Decor with apples, plums and bunches of grapes. Birger Kaipiainen has been called "the master of ceramics" and "the undisputed ruler of decorative art".
Highlights of iridescent glaze. The platter is in mint condition. No sign of use.
Birger Kaipiainen began his career at the Arabia Art Department in 1937 and quickly found his own way to make art. The soon-to-begin Winter War and several losses in his personal life cast a dark shadow over the beginning of his artistic career, and this manifested as sadness and longing in his early works. They are dominated by ethereal, fairy-tale-like characters depicted in pastel tones, with references to early Italian Renaissance and longing for a more beautiful world.
Kaipiainen graduated from the School of Arts & Crafts (later known as the Aalto School of Arts of Helsinki). After graduation he went to work for Finnish ceramics...
Category
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Porcelain, Stoneware
Glazed stoneware sculpture with motifs
By Rörstrand, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Glazed stoneware dish/sculpture with motifs in shades of green and black. Circa 1955. Signed.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
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Previously Available Items
A Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Dish, Lyster Pears & Flowers, Arabia 1970s
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A beautiful unique ceramic plate designed by Birger Kaipianen for Arabia in Finland in the 1970s., decorated with multiple different kinds of flowers and fruits. This piece is a good...
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H 2.17 in Dm 15.36 in
Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Dish, Lyster Apples & Pansies, Arabia, 1970s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful unique ceramic plate designed by Birger Kaipianen for Arabia in Finland in the 1970s., decorated with multiple different kinds of flowers and fruits. This piece is a good...
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1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
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H 2.96 in Dm 15.36 in
Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Dish, Carnations and Pansies, Arabia 1970s
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful unique ceramic plate designed by Birger Kaipianen for Arabia in Finland in the 1970s., decorated with multiple different kinds of flowers. This piece is a good example of...
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H 12.21 in W 14.18 in D 2.76 in
Unique Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Dish, with Fkowers & Fruits, Arabia 1970s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
This is a beautiful unique ceramic plate decorated with a central sunflower and multiple plums and flowers. It is a good example of the artists skill to use colors and fine iridesce...
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1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
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H 12.21 in W 14.18 in D 2.76 in
Ceramic Figure Wall sculpture 'Untitled' by Birger Kaipiainen, Finland, 1950s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wall sculpture 'Untitled' by Birger Kaipiainen, Finland, 1950s
Signed.
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H 23.63 in W 2.56 in D 1.97 in
Birger Kaipiainen, rare 1930's metal tray for Kotiliesi
By Birger Kaipiainen
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Introducing a rare and exquisite piece of art, a metal tray hand-painted with a unique design by renowned artist Birger Kaipiainen. The tray was originally created for Kotiliesi post...
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Birger Kaipiainen Large Decorative Ceramic Dish Golden Lyre & Blues, Arabia 1979
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Helsinki, FI
Birger Kaipiainen saw the world through a surreal and symbolic filter that made it more joyful, flowerful, and certainly more colourful.
However, during times of grief, as when he lost his wife Maggi in 1966, he turned to blues, blacks and violets.
Another such period was when Kaipiainen lost his dear friend, the Marimekko's founder and designer, Armi Ratia in 1979.
Birger and Armi used to spend a lot of time at her legendary Bökars Mansion that had a wonderful veranda adorned with columns and chandeliers.
Armi's loss was reflected in a few of Kaipiainen's works from that period. In those works (see last pics of dishes from the book Kaipiainen by Maria Berg) his interpretation of the duality of life and death was obvious. Also the symbolism bridging the two was present (reflection, bridges, boats, flowing waters). We can also see pansy flowers that he frequently used after the loss of his wife.
In this unique dish, Kaipiainen used a lot of the above colours and elements, and just as Armi was the soul of their legendary parties, he introduced the golden harp...
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H 2.76 in W 16.15 in D 22.05 in
Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Ceramic Dish, Arabia
By Birger Kaipiainen, Arabia
Located in Helsinki, FI
Beautiful ceramic plate decorated with multiple beadings. Back of the plate is signed "Birger Kaipiainen" and the plate is marked by the manufacturer Arabia 1980. This model called ...
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Unique Stoneware Platter by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1960s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Amazing, unique stoneware platter by Birger Kaipiainen. Beautiful composition on a white background, of a white flower, two silvery pears and violets.
Birger Kaipiainen was Finland’...
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Large Birger Kaipiainen Ceramic Wall Piece for Arabia, Mint Condition
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Kansas City, MO
Very large Birger Kaipiainen ceramic wall sculpture. Condition is virtually perfect. Stunning Mid-Century Modern design.
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Big Decorative Ceramic Plate 'Viola 1967" -Arabia Finland- by Birger Kaipiainen
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Turku, FI
Decorative ceramic plate marked 'Viola 1967, Arabia Finland, Kaipiainen Invenit', numbered 917/3000. Design by Birger Kaipiainen (Finland, 1915-1988).
Viola (a flower, violet in Latin) features a beautiful black and blue glazing on a viola-shaped wall plate. “Sea of Violets” was the artwork by Kaipiainen for Expo 67...
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1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
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H 18.12 in W 16.93 in D 13.78 in
Dish by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, Finland, 1970’s
By Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stoneware. Unique.
Measures: D: 25.5 cm/ 10"
H: 4 cm/ 1 1/2".
Category
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Birger Kaipiainen Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Birger Kaipiainen furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Birger Kaipiainen furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Birger Kaipiainen furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Birger Kaipiainen were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in finland during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Friedl Holzer-Kjellberg, Rut Bryk, and Saara Hopea-Untracht. Prices for Birger Kaipiainen furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $966 and can go as high as $28,110, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,689.