Kaarina Aho Set of Four Unique Cups

A set of four hand-thrown and hand-glazed stoneware cups with handles designed by Kaarina Aho for Arabia, Finland, circa 1957. 

Upon first glance, this cup, like Aho’s 'BL' or 'Mokka' cup which won a silver medal at the 1957 Milan Triennale, could be said to be simple. [1] In the sense that it is uncomplicated and easy to understand, we ourselves would describe the design as simplistic. However, its purity and straightforwardness are the result of a deep level of thinking, backed up by a wealth of knowledge on ceramics.

At this intersection is where Kaarina Aho and others at the eminent Arabia factory were able to place themselves in the mid-1940s to the 1970s. The period in which the workshop and those that worked it were at the height of their powers.

Aho joined Arabia in 1946, upon graduating as a model draftsperson from the University of Art and Design Helsinki. At Arabia, Aho first served as an assistant to Kaj Franck in the product development department but became dissatisfied with mainly having to create decorations for tableware. Aho handed in her resignation but rather than loose her the factory’s management devised a programme that allowed her to trail work in almost all the company’s different departments, from the laboratory to the glazing section.

Aho emerged from this experience as a more developed and multifaceted designer. From 1949 until 1962 she then formed part of a working group headed by Kaj Franck. [2] With designs such as ‘Kilta’ and ‘Palapeli’ this group not only helped champion the fusion of form and function in design, but helped position Finland’s Modernist approach to design on the world stage.

Independently, Aho’s design, as well as displaying Modernist simplicity and elegance, is distinguished by the incorporation of organic shapes and muted, earthy tones. In fact, this cup is quintessential of her work.

The body of this cup is a cone but with relaxed, subtly curvaceous, walls which have been given a ribbed surface texture. The original shape of the wet clay used to form the handle was a triangle, however its clever manipulation onto the cup sees it transformed into a three-dimensional shape best described as an unfurling leaf.

The handles exterior has a gentle groove, like an aloe vera leaf, into which your thumb comfortably sits. The handle’s hole accommodates just one finger, the index. Whilst the fern like curl at the base of the handle, and the bottom of the handle’s loop itself, provides an ergonomic corner into which the middle finger can rest. Combined, these intensely considered yet subtly executed details achieve a handle that is incredibly secure and pleasing to grip.

Functionally, a treacle-like gloss glaze covers the entirety of the cup. Sitting at different thicknesses in the grooves scored into the cup’s walls creates a beautifully subtle mixture of browns, greens, and yellows giving an otherwise predominantly black glaze a great sense of depth.

[1] Aho also won a silver medal the 1954 Milan Triennale.

[2] Other members of Franck's team included Saara Hopea & Ulla Procopé -respectively to the right of seated Aho in the final image.