The capital of Finland, Helsinki. In the district of "Arabia", where is just about 15 minutes by tram from the city center, the small porcelain factory was built in 1843, 170 years ago. The porcelain factory was established as a subsidiary of Roll Strand Company in Sweden, and it was named "Arabia" under the name of the district.

At that time, Finland was under the constitutional monarch of the Grand Duke, Emperor of Russia, the main purpose of the establishment of "Arabia" was to produce the goods for export to Russia. In 1916, one year before Czarist Russia was overthrown by the Russian Revolution and when Finland gained independence from Russia, "Arabia" came into their hands. Until the 20th century, the design of ceramic had been used Roll Strand Company's, but by hiring overseas artists, their original design of "Arabia" has been built up.

The beginning of the 1930s, "Arabia" hired Biruieru-Kaipiainen & other artists, and thereafter, new artists joined one after another. In contradiction to other ceramic manufacturers in Europe which had emulated the Chinese ceramic and Meissen, they had been developing their original designs and shapes.

Since 1920s in Sweden, the Philosophy of "Beauty for everyday life" had been raised as a major slogan, and a few years later, this new way of thinking also began to be proposed in Finland. "Arabia" established a Design Planning Office, and they appointed Kai Frank as a chief in 1945 who had gained a reputation as a textile and glass designer at that time. He is also familiar with the production method of ceramic, and he created his own Simple and Clear Design.

If you see the characteristics of Finnish Design as "Simple and Functional", you will remember first the image of the products of "Arabia's Designers & Artists". It means the artistic policy of one company, “Arabia” had given the major impact to the development of ceramic crafts in Finland.

* Currently, they are sold under the name of "Iittala"

1975-

In 1975, Tampere in Finland-born artist. After graduating the ceramic and glass course of the University of Art and Design in 2002, in the same year, he was awarded in The International Ceramics Festival at Mino in Japan. The piece which was designed as his graduation work became his first piece at "Arabia". Now he works at the art department of "Arabia", and he participated in the exhibition which was held at Shigaraki in Japan and Denmark, and also, his first personal exhibition was held at Arabia Museum in 2005.

1915-1988

In 1915, Poly in Finland-born artist. Kaipiainen had worked more than 40 years at "Arabia". He had the experience of the opera's costume design, so we can find his expression of softness and decoration characterized fabric into his works. The motif of nature, especially "Pansy" is his characteristics, and "Paratiisi" series have been still very popular since 1970.

2009-

1969-

1947-

In 1947, Helsinki in Finland-born artist. After graduating The Art School in Helsinki, he had designed textile, and he has been working at the art-design section of "Arabia" since 1980. He was awarded the grand prizes at the several International Ceramics Festival, and also he won the Grand Prix at the International Chinaware Festival held in Mino Japan in 1998.

1938-

In 1938, Vehmaa in Finland-born artist. Since 1962, she has been working at "Arabia" as a designer. She is also famous as a picture story book writer, and she has been to come to Japan. In her wall decorations derived from her story and the picture books, "Braille" dots are also given.

2005-

1984-