Arabia has been synonymous with Finnish ceramics for over a century, and each collection is in major museums worldwide. Whether it’s the best-selling Fruit of the Loom series or the hand-painted Garden series, many of their designs are inspired by nature. In addition to healing patterns, their porcelain also feels very warm to the touch. This has resulted in many timeless designs.
In Finland, many people will treasure Arabia’s tableware for a lifetime and even pass it on from generation to generation.
Thanks to iconic brands such as Arabia and Iittala, high-quality Finnish ceramics and design tableware are known worldwide. In this article, we explore some of the most popular ceramic manufacturers and brands in Finland.
Arabia
Arabia is one of the two most famous and respected design brands in Finland. They have a long and vibrant history and are as much a part of the Finnish image as the Northern Lights, Santa Claus, Sauna, and Moomin.
The simplicity of their ceramic designs, which take full advantage of the natural properties of the material, yet balance aesthetics, quality, and practicality, has made Arabia a pioneer in Finnish design. It is worth mentioning that the collaboration with the Finnish cartoon character Moomin made more people fall in love with Arabia, and as if the Scandinavian designers had an innate love for Moomin, they presented these stories in the form of cartoons on tableware again and again. Do you like this Arabia?
iittala
Since 1881, iittala has been inspiring a better life. What started as a glass factory in a small village in iittala, Finland, has grown into an internationally renowned brand that has had a major impact on the Nordic way of life.
In the early years, iittala made glassware by blowing and pressing continental models brought into the factory by glass blowers. In the early 20th century, they were one of the first companies to move away from decorative table sets to tableware that combined function and form with advanced Scandinavian design.
What is most impressive is their design philosophy. Creating items that not only impress with their sophistication and functionality but also with their visually appealing designs. Timeless beauty never ends up in the trash. For iittala, good design must always be well thought out, practical and accessible to all.
Today, iittala is no longer limited to glassware but is also making a splash in the porcelain sector. One of the most classic is the Teema collection. Each piece in the collection is derived from three simple forms: round, square and rectangular. A versatile collection with an infinite combination of functionality, durability, and refinement. That’s why people use them and love them.
Tonfisk
The young Finnish brand “Tonfisk” was founded in 1999 by designers Tony Alfström and Brian Keaney. After more than a decade of rapid development, Tonfisk has become a representative brand in the Scandinavian design scene.
Tonfisk’s design entry is in fact the combination of different materials in design. With the careful design of the project and time to settle, continue to improve the product experience and improve the production quality. As a result, Tonfisk has developed one collection after another.
Since the birth of the Warm series of plywood and ceramic teapot set has attracted a lot of attention. At the same time, the Warm series also gave Tonfisk the foundation of popularity, and they later followed this design approach to produce many series of works. Today, Tonfisk’s works have entered the international home design store chain, and their design products are sold to a network of stores around the world giving them great commercial opportunities. The combination of plywood bending and ceramics has also made it a representative of innovative design.
VAJA Finland
Simple, chic, and timeless best describe the tableware of this Porvoo-based manufacturer of quality ceramics. founded in 2011 by two industry experts (and former employees of Arabia), VAJA Finland is dedicated to creating functional ceramics that will stand the test of time.
Designed for the modern home and all occasions, VAJA’s product line continues to grow and develop. It includes elegant mugs and cups, jars and jugs, bowls and plates, and a range of matching kitchen accessories. Clean lines and graphic decorative patterns are the brand’s most distinctive features.
Founders Fred Owren and Henna Lamberg have said, “We at VAJA Finland create beautiful and intelligent designs that are surprisingly functional and will be preserved for future generations. “
Marimekko
Marimekko, a Finnish national treasure and one of the world’s first lifestyle brands, shows the world a vibrant and optimistic approach to life. marimekko is not a traditional ceramic manufacturer. They specialize in apparel, home, and fabric. The biggest feature of the design is the bright colors and printed patterns.
Unikko was designed by designer Maija Isola in 1964 and is one of the brand’s most iconic patterns. In 2021, for example, Marimekko is bringing the classic Unikko print to the table with the theme “the Future Landscapes”. The color scheme of the collection consists of neutrals, rich blues, and vibrant reds. The color scheme consists of neutrals, rich blues, and vibrant reds, with the coolness of a Nordic forest and the warmth of vibrant life. In addition to showcasing the ever-changing beauty of nature, the collection also injects warmth into your winter home decor.
In addition to these local Finnish ceramic brands, there are many other national porcelain brands that are also popular in Finland. Next, let’s find out more about them.
Becasa Porcelain
Becasa Porcelain, a young porcelain manufacturer with 20 years of experience, has created different collections of modern porcelain concepts with its close-to-life designs. In addition to modern design, their products are made with the user’s lifestyle in mind, so that their porcelain is unique and harmonious. It is the diversity, the individuality that goes beyond function, that creates the unique style of THE BECASA brand. All Becasa porcelain products are originally designed and manufactured in China. The brand is known worldwide and has many loyal users.
Their most famous product is the Camellia Celadon series of porcelain tableware, which is popular in Northern Europe and Japan. Because it is fired at high temperatures, it is easy to clean and has high brightness. It also feels thick in the hand.
Narumi
Narumi was founded in 1938 in Narumi, Japan, and is one of the world’s most famous bone china brands.
Narumi’s bone china products are made from 47% cow bone powder. Narumi’s bone china products are made by a special process, with exquisite printing technology, making the exquisite color layer is very strong. Therefore, their products are favored by the world’s major five-star hotels and are the designated brand of many famous hotel groups. In addition to its popularity in Europe, Narumi has a high status in Japan and is highly collectible.
Aito
Aito is a brand of ceramic tableware from Japan, which belongs to AITO Co. The founder founded the brand more than 60 years ago in Seto, hoping to bring beauty and hope to the people who were still in the midst of the storm through wonderful objects. The company mainly produces and sells ceramic tableware, kitchenware, glass, and cloth products.
Aito Mino-yaki tableware is made using the underglaze technique. In other words, the design is painted on the semi-finished blank before it is glazed and fired in a high-temperature kiln. In this way, the pattern is covered with a transparent glaze film after firing. As a result, it is warmer and more lustrous.
Most importantly, Aito Mino-yaki tableware is fired at a high temperature, with the kiln temperature reaching 1240℃~1260℃, instead of the usual 700℃~800℃. Their ceramics are also more solid, and corrosion-resistant. And microwave oven, dishwasher, and sterilizer safe.
Rörstrand
Rörstrand is a Nordic Swedish ceramics brand, founded in 1726 to date. With a history of manufacturing and operating the brand spanning four centuries. At the time, it was the only brand in Sweden that could use the royal symbol and was also the official brand for the Nobel Prize Dinner. Today these different collections of tableware are also active on the tables of the Finnish people.
More than 80 percent of the brand’s designers are women. They are good at creating classic collections for the brand with a unique female sensibility, which also gives the brand an extremely warm temperament.
Villeroy & Boch
When it comes to Villeroy & Boch, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely the top sanitary ware. But in fact, Villeroy&Boch started with ceramic tableware and has become a global brand after more than 300 years of heritage.
Villeroy & Boch has been favored and loved by the royal families and celebrities of the world. When Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married, they started to have breakfast together with Villeroy&Boch’s Geranium green tableware. Since the middle of the 20th century, Villeroy & Boch has been providing stately and elegant bone china sets for the enthronement of the new Pope, adding to the top decorations of the palace.
Most of their products are made of bone china tableware made of high-grade beef bone powder, bone powder content of about 48-50%, the industry bone powder content is considered very high.
