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Birger Kaipiainen

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

BIRGER KAIPIAINEN, A BUTLER'S TRAY. Signed Birger Kaipiainen Arabia.

Height 69 cm, width 85 cm, depth 57 cm.

Normal wear.

More information

This item is collected at Iso Roobertinkatu 12 after the auction has ended.

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
2 600
E
U
R
29 094
S
E
K
2 640
USD
Estimate
2 000 EUR
The auction is closed.
Accepted minimum price is met
Bid history (16 bids)
9
Apr 26, 2016 6:30 PM
2 600 EUR
8
Apr 26, 2016 6:25 PM
2 500 EUR
7
A
Apr 26, 2016 6:25 PM
2 450 EUR
7
Apr 26, 2016 10:51 AM
1 500 EUR
4
Apr 26, 2016 10:50 AM
900 EUR
6
Apr 26, 2016 9:39 AM
820 EUR
4
Apr 26, 2016 9:04 AM
800 EUR
5
Apr 26, 2016 7:34 AM
700 EUR
3
Apr 25, 2016 9:34 PM
650 EUR
4
Apr 25, 2016 8:47 PM
600 EUR
3
Apr 25, 2016 4:34 PM
500 EUR
5
Apr 25, 2016 3:52 PM
420 EUR
4
Apr 24, 2016 10:48 PM
400 EUR
3
Apr 24, 2016 10:06 PM
300 EUR
2
Apr 22, 2016 9:21 PM
200 EUR
1
Apr 22, 2016 4:03 PM
30 EUR
All times are in CET
Purchasing info
Image rights

The artworks in this database are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the rights holders. The artworks are reproduced in this database with a license from Bildupphovsrätt.