Saturday, October 12, 2013

From Finland with love


I adore finnish design. Yesterday, my dream find arrived!! I've found what's been on the very top of my wishlist for a very long time on Finn (Norway's Craigslist)- the Ultima Thule caraffe. It's so incredibly gorgeous, I absolutely adore this series by the amazing Tapio Wirkkala, designed in 1968. It's so breathtakingly beautiful, looking like eternally melting ice. The design is both beautiful AND intriguing, I keep noticing more great details all the time. The work of that bearded, pipe- smoking, natureloving guy is unlike anything else. As mentioned in a recent post, collecting the tumblers takes a lot of patience, the few that find their way to a store over here, is snatched away before they even hit the shelves. But my goodness, finding them is so rewarding, they are simply the most gorgeous glasses on this planet.





My heart always beats a little bit faster whenever I find new pieces of Arabia Ruska. I adore finnish design, and to me, Ruska is Finland, the roughness, the dark woody brown, the simple shapes, I love it. Just like Ultima Thule, it has a very Nordic feel to it. This masterpiece by Ulla Procope was introduced in 1961-62, and was in production for more than three decades, I'm guessing much due to it's modern and rustic appeal. Lucky for us, this makes it fairly easy to collect, as I know many of you do. It never seizes to amaze me that it was designed as early as it was. If I didn't know, I would easily have guessed the 70s. Earlier I've found the lovely teapot, dinner plates for twelve, several serving dishes and a teaset. Below is what I found yesterday in the Salvation army store. At ridiculously low prices, I might add.



I love the shape of the creamer, simple, low and wide.


Six coffee cups. I have eight teacups already, and often prefer the shape of teacups. But these coffee cups are even more gorgeous, so straight and tall. The only problem with Ruska is that the cups don't stack well... I do forgive them, though, since they're so gorgeous.



I haven't seen this dish before. It's an oven dish, but I can find so many other uses for it too, I adore the shape. It has the first stamp I've seen with the name Ruska on it.


 
I have this large round serving plate already, and have always wanted one more. I use it for everything, cake, salad, pizza and traditional dishes like a roast. 



Autumn has been at it's very best here today. Gorgeous weather and breathtaking colors. I went for a walk and I'm leaving you with a couple of snaps of a house here in my neighbourhood that I'm really curious about. With it's dark brown facades surrounded by Nordic foilage it seemed so fitting to throw it in after the Ruska. Although it's close to the road, it's hard to photograph. Despite it's very geometric appearance, it blends in with the foilage. Much due to the coloring, of course. It's designed around the end of the 60s. it has a square plan and an atrium covered by the glass pyramide you can see on the roof.  I'm hoping one day I'll get the chance to see it inside. I'll be sure to share it with you if it ever happens! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!



Ps. I just linked up with Max over at Blackbird has spoken, do pay her lovely blog a visit, I highly recommend it!

22 comments:

  1. The Ultima Thule carafe looks perfect with the Ruska. We haven't had any Ultima Thule in the store for a year or so. For a while I saw the small carafes frequently but not many of the large ones. I think it's time for me to start looking again. That house is very interesting. I hope you get to show us more someday.

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    1. I agree, they are spectacular together- a perfect match! I must see what I can come up with concerning that house. it has intrigued me for some time now:-)

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  2. I'd love to see more of that house Tove - it's exterior is all kinds of perfect to me.
    Congratulations on finding your much longed for carafe - it's got a great shape - science lab meets icey bark.

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    1. So glad you like it, Kylie, it's an experimental house the architect drew for himself. The guy who founded the studio I work for in 1970 used to know him, I'll have to get some information out of him. I don't know who lives there know, as I think he passed away. I'll see what i can arrange:-) Loving my new carafe, your "science lab meets icey bark" is spot on:-)

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  3. Yay Tove!! You found your carafe! So glad you can add that to your collection. I bet you have a stunning Ruska collection by now too. I hardly ever see it over here. That house looks stunning and I'm quite jealous of all the lovely fall foliage. ;)

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    1. Thank you Francine!! Yes, the Ruska collection is definitely growing. I can serve dinner with coffee afterwards now:-) You're invited!! It's funny how these things travel, I've heard there's a lot in Australia from our mutual friends. Fall is definitely here, this weekend has been amazing, weather and color- wise. I wish it could last forever, I'd love to at least skip winter...

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  4. love the glass

    I see you had a great day

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    1. Thanks, Kay, so glad you liked it!! And i sure did have a great day:-)

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  5. Ruska and ultima thule love! I'm the same - my heart beats faster when I spy ultima thule glassware in a charity shop. And what a great home...you should knock on the door and ask for a tour! For your blog readers! lol. xx

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    1. Indeed! Oh, I knew I had a fellow Ultima Thule lover in you:-) I've just been enjoying your tour of the old windmill and the Craigston, lovely!
      I might just knock on that door one day, seeing that you all seem to share my interest in that house. What I find extra interesting is that the architect designed it for himself, which always makes the result more experimental, with less compromises. I think he passed away and I don't know who owns it now. I hope everything is still intact. My colleague who founded the studio where I work in 1970 has been there and knew the architect. I'll do some digging, it would be great fun to take you on a tour:-)

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  6. The Ruska design is interesting - I'm sure a NZ pottery company called Temuka "borrowed" the style in the 1970s.

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    1. Hi! I was so curious hearing that, so I went ahead and googled it:-) I'm pretty sure Temuka's Riverstone must be the design you mean! And it's absolutely gorgeous!! Very similar in style, yes, but with a distinct twist of it's own. I actually found a great post about it over at my blogging friend Ray's! If you don't know him already, pop over and have a look at www.retropottery.net. Thanks for bringing this lovely pottery to my attention. I bet I'll never find it in my part of the world, but still...

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  7. More Ruska I say, I love using it everyday, I will never tire of it and you know I have a serious iittala passion! Your table is my table!
    ...knock on the door and ask the owner to read this blog post, I'm sure they will oblige? You could sweeten the deal with cake? xx

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    1. I know we agree about these, Pippa!!! I use my Ruska all the time too, LOVE it!!! I hope some more glasses will find their way to my home, I'd love to be able to use them when we're a full table of guests. I heard from the comments on my last post that you all agreed that Ultima Thule and the Holmegaard glasses could be combined. Yay!!! They're both gorgeous in very different ways! Those Finns, huh? And Danes!! :-)
      Haha, good idea- I'll try with cake!!!

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  8. SO happy for you Tove. That carafe is all kinds of beautiful. Little by little you are getting your glass! I have wanted to keep the Ruska that I find, but the fact that they do not stack well means that I can't. I have such a little kitchen :)

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    1. Oh, thank you so much, Beatriz- that's SO sweet! So glad you like the carafe too:-) I'm a bit puzzled as to why stacking wasn't a priority in this simple and otherwise functional design, I guess Ulla Procope didn't predict the hoarding that would take place 50 years later:-) I can imagine your kitchen is full of all kinds of gorgeous stuff, Bea!

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  9. Your Ruska looks darker and more 'natural' looking than Temuka. Funny, Temuka is a place name in NZ, but Tenmuku (spelling?) is the traditional dark brown Japanese glaze, hmmm.
    Anyway, back on topic, YOU HAVE A CARAF! Kylie's description is spot on. I love it, and now I can't wait to find one myself!
    I love houses built up close to trees, built around them, respecting them. Not often done here, because of the fire risk, but one a few years ago won a big architecture award and the husband has the article stashed away, you know so when we miraculously come into pots of money we can get the same architect to build for us!
    ps. i found a pale blue ultima thule glass recently, do you know why they might have made them in blue?

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    1. Wow, I had to google that glaze and it looks sensational!! Thanks for that piece of information:-) Japanese pottery is so gorgeous!! I'm sooo glad you like the carafe, it's really something else. I hope one will cross your path too!! It's the first one ever I've seen around here, so imagine my joy when I saw that ad! The prize was very reasonable too.
      I agree, there really is something about houses and trees. My goal is always to convince clients to keep as many trees as possible on their site. I'm happy when I succeed in convincing them, but often people want lawns as even as golf courses. I hope you'll get that dream house one day, although I'm sure you already have a cosy home:-)
      I'd never seen Ultima Thule in pale blue, a limited edition maybe? Would be interesting to know if you find out! Thanks Max:-)

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  10. It's official ! I need some Ultima Thule in my life... Like right now !

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    1. Oh yeah!! I'm constantly on the lookout, but it takes a bit of patience to collect these. Such joy when they turn up, though:-) Glad you like them too!!!

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  11. I love photographing the houses in my historic area while walking around, too. The one you've shared is gorgeous! And so is the amazing mod dinnerware!

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    1. Thanks! Yes, I'm so hoping to see the inside of it one day! Maybe I'll just knock on the door with a big smile and cake, like Pippa suggested:-) I'm really glad you liked my Ruska cups and plates! So glad you popped by too, always nice to have new visitors:-)

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