Arabia (Finland)

Founded in 1873 by the Swedish company Rörstrand, Arabia began as a ceramics factory built on a Helsinki plot of land bearing the same name. Originally established to grant Rörstrand easier access to the lucrative Russian market, the factory initially focused on domestic faience and classic copper-transferred tableware. However, following World War I and the dawn of Finnish independence, Rörstrand sold its shares to local buyers in 1916, marking the beginning of Arabia’s transformation into a distinctly Finnish design powerhouse.

The company's true golden age arrived in the post-war mid-century period. Despite financial hurdles that led to an acquisition by the Wärtsilä corporation in 1947, Arabia's product range was completely revitalised thanks to the hiring of visionary designer Kaj Franck in 1945. Under his direction, both the Art and Industrial departments flourished, attracting top-tier Scandinavian talent including Oiva Toikka, Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist, and Richard and Francesca Lindh.

This era of creative freedom produced some of the most iconic and highly collected tableware of the 20th century. The 1960s saw the release of Ulla Procopé’s richly glazed 'Valencia' and her incredibly popular, earthy 'Ruska' series, followed by Birger Kaipiainen’s beloved 'Paratiisi' pattern in 1969. Today, over 150 years after its founding, Arabia remains in operation, celebrated globally for its enduring contribution to modern Nordic design.