Arabia

Arabia is a Finland based ceramics company, which is a part of the Iittala Group. The company was established in 1873 on the northern outskirts of Helsinki, when the Finnish ceramics industry was in its infancy. The factory’s first catalogue was launched in 1883. Prominent items in that era were Helsingfors tableware set, Flora, Fuxia, Svea, Landskap, Victoria and Feston. In 1885, Arabia became a limited company, Arabia Aktiefabrik. In 1893, three new decorated dinner sets were introduced; the Speranza, Pomona and Sing-Fo. In the early 1900s, Arabia started production of its own models of tiled stoves, vases and sets of tableware. In 1906, the company introduced the "Jugend" style copperplate decorations - Capella, Ester and Hildur. The first Arabia design competition was organized in 1912, which was won by Eric O. W. Ehrstrˆm. 1929 saw the introduction of the much-improved continuous tunnel kiln, and Arabia’s foray into electrical insulators. Arabia established its now-famous Art Department in the year 1932. 1948 saw the opening of the Arabia Museum. The 1950s ushered in the Kilta range, which was the brainchild of Kaj Franck (Arabia’s then in-charge of product design function), which comprised AR-Heini and Ulla ProcopÈ’s Liekki dishes. In the 1960s, the Arabia range was massively overhauled with the introduction of Ruska, Paratiisi, Valencia, BK-Paratiisi, Palapeli, SN plant pots and the GB restaurant range. 1970s saw the introduction of the Kalevala annual plates range, and the M-Karelia, EH-Faenza, Tea for Two and Arctica tableware ranges. In 1981, Kaj Franck modernized his Kilta series, and reintroduced it as the Teema. 1980s also saw the introduction of the Tuuli, Saaristo, Microset, Teema, Domino and Harlekin. In 1993, pressure casting was introduced in the Arabia factory. In 2006, Arabia was ranked as the second most-esteemed brand in Finland.