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Birger Kaipiainen

(Finland, 1915-1988)
Birger Kaipiainen
(Finland, 1915-1988)

BIRGER KAIPIAINEN, A CERAMIC DISH. Butterflies and flowers. Signed Kaipiainen, Arabia. 1970s.

Colored glazing and ceramic pearls. Width 50 cm, height 42 cm.

With insignificant wear.

Designer

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.

In the 1950s, Kaipiainen introduced three-dimensionality and graphic stylization in his work. The colour scheme also gradually became darker and more intense. Kaipiainen spent the years 1954–1958 in Sweden working as a studio artist at the Rörstrand porcelain factory. During that time, the artist could fulfil oneself and his production became progressively inspired by surrealism. A recurring theme over the decade was round-faced and slender female figures who either emerged from a table or the surface of the wall or was standing unattached as totemic figures.

After returning from Sweden, Kaipiainen was already a well-known artist both back home in Finland and abroad. The recognition allowed him more freedom, and he was given more space to express himself and his ideas in the Arabia Art Department. During that time, in addition to the focus on shape, the surface of the object became a central aspect of Kaipianen´s artworks. In the 1960s, Kaipiainen introduced ceramic beads to his art, threaded on an iron wire that was attached to the surfaces made out of plates. This was considered astounding at the time. Simultaneously, figures of human became less prominent motifs in his art and his work became even larger and more ornate.

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Auction closed
Hammer price
6 625
E
U
R
75 061
S
E
K
6 912
USD
Estimate
3 000 EUR
The auction is closed.
Accepted minimum price is met
Bid history (31 bids)
4
A
Apr 29, 2016 6:25 PM
6 625 EUR
9
Apr 29, 2016 6:25 PM
6 425 EUR
4
Apr 29, 2016 6:22 PM
6 225 EUR
9
Apr 29, 2016 6:22 PM
6 025 EUR
4
A
Apr 29, 2016 6:22 PM
6 000 EUR
4
A
Apr 29, 2016 6:21 PM
5 825 EUR
9
Apr 29, 2016 6:21 PM
5 625 EUR
4
Apr 29, 2016 6:21 PM
5 425 EUR
8
A
Apr 29, 2016 6:21 PM
5 225 EUR
8
Apr 29, 2016 6:21 PM
5 020 EUR
4
A
Apr 29, 2016 6:21 PM
5 000 EUR
4
Apr 29, 2016 6:20 PM
4 601 EUR
8
A
Apr 29, 2016 6:20 PM
4 401 EUR
8
Apr 29, 2016 6:16 PM
4 200 EUR
4
A
Apr 29, 2016 6:06 PM
4 000 EUR
7
Apr 29, 2016 6:06 PM
4 000 EUR
4
A
Apr 29, 2016 3:28 PM
3 900 EUR
5
Apr 29, 2016 3:28 PM
3 800 EUR
4
Apr 29, 2016 3:23 PM
3 700 EUR
5
Apr 29, 2016 3:10 PM
3 600 EUR
4
Apr 29, 2016 3:00 PM
3 500 EUR
5
A
Apr 29, 2016 2:50 PM
3 400 EUR
4
Apr 29, 2016 2:50 PM
3 400 EUR
5
Apr 29, 2016 12:39 PM
3 200 EUR
6
Apr 29, 2016 10:52 AM
3 100 EUR
5
A
Apr 29, 2016 10:52 AM
3 000 EUR
5
Apr 28, 2016 11:43 PM
2 500 EUR
4
Apr 24, 2016 9:20 AM
2 400 EUR
3
Apr 19, 2016 10:21 PM
1 600 EUR
2
Apr 19, 2016 6:22 PM
500 EUR
1
Apr 19, 2016 4:54 PM
30 EUR
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Covered by droit de suite

By law, the buyer will pay an artist fee for this work of art. This fee is 5% of the hammer price, or less. For more information about this law:

Sweden: BUS
Finland: Kuvasto

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