Hi, I’m Zukky.
Do you know the Finnish ceramic brand ARABIA? In Japan, it’s famous for its Moomin mugs. My own “Hattifatteners” (Nyoro-nyoro) mug is so well-used that it’s stained with tea on the inside. Even looking at the bottom… well, let’s just say it’s full of “real-life” character. That’s intentional, okay? Totally intentional.
For anyone interested in Finland, Arabia is a household name for high-quality tableware. However, for a long time, I found this brand quite mysterious. Why? Because my first encounter with the name “Arabia” was as a manufacturer of toilets.
When I was an exchange student, I noticed the Arabia logo on the flush lever of my apartment’s toilet. That was the exact moment I first truly recognized the name. Though the materials are similar, I couldn’t help but wonder: “Does the same company really make both dinnerware and toilets?” I decided to dive into the history to find out.
Was Arabia originally founded by a Swedish company?
Arabia actually started as a subsidiary of the Swedish ceramic manufacturer Rörstrand.
Founded in 1726, Rörstrand is the third oldest ceramics maker in Europe and a purveyor to the Swedish Royal Court. In 1873, the company obtained permission to build a factory in a district called “Arabia” on the outskirts of Helsinki. This is the origin of the brand’s name.
At that time, Finland was the Grand Duchy of Finland (1809–), an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. Rörstrand’s strategy was to build a factory in Finland because exporting to Russia from Finland incurred lower tariffs than exporting from Sweden.
Initially, the factory produced tableware using Rörstrand’s existing designs. However, in the 1880s, Gustaf Herlitz joined as technical director, professional designers were invited, and a dedicated decoration department was established. At the 1900 Paris World Expo, Arabia’s works by Thure Öberg even won a gold prize.
Arabia: A Giant of Infrastructure
From very early on, Arabia was heavily involved in the production of sanitary ware, heating equipment, and architectural materials.
| 製造開始年 | 特徴 | |
| Sanitary Ware (Toilets/Sinks) | 1874 | Manufactured in Helsinki & Tammisaari |
| Tile Stoves (Fireplaces) | 1873 | Decorative majolica tiles |
| Architectural Tiles | 1880s | For building exteriors/interiors and public facilities |
In 1874, Arabia’s majolica tiles for fireplaces became a massive hit—so much so that they had to appoint a dedicated agent in Leipzig, Germany, just to handle the sales. It’s hard to imagine now, but fireplace tiles were once a core product (though they declined in the 1930s as central heating became common).
In 1891, a massive theft incident occurred where 50 employees were prosecuted. If anything, this suggests just how profitable the business was at the time!
In 1916, amidst the chaos of WWI, Arabia became fully independent from Rörstrand. Moving in sync with Finland’s own independence in 1917, the company began its unique path. Gustaf’s son, Carl-Gustaf Herlitz, took over and led the company through the Great Depression by thoroughly automating and streamlining production processes. Truly impressive.
By the 1940s, Arabia had grown into what was called the “largest ceramics factory in the world,” employing over 2,000 people at its peak. Looking back, it was an incredibly massive enterprise.
The Art Department and the Split of Sanitary Ware
In 1932, Kurt Ekholm became the artistic director, and an art department was established within Arabia. This was a groundbreaking initiative to provide designers with a space for free creation and then feed those results back into industrial design. This department produced legendary designers such as Michael Schilkin, Birger Kaipiainen, Rut Bryk, and Toini Muona.
In 1945, Kaj Franck was hired. His “Kilta” series, released in 1953, sparked a revolution. Until then, it was standard to buy “matching luxury sets,” but he made it possible to buy exactly the number of pieces you needed, when you needed them. The “Kilta” series pursued functional beauty with a simple, stackable design (later refined into the “Teema” series).
By the 1960s, led by Ulla Procopé, the company succeeded in developing stoneware, a new heat-resistant material.
During this period of evolution, the sanitary ware department was eventually split off. To optimize production capacity, manufacturing was moved from the Helsinki factory to a new plant in Tammisaari in 1869.
| Year | Organizational Change | Details |
| 1969 | Wärtsilä Tammisaaren Posliini founded | Sanitary ware production moved to new plant |
| 1971 | Sanitary ware production ends at Arabia | All production handled by the Tammisaari company |
| 1990 | Sanitec founded | Merged multiple Nordic sanitary ware makers |
| 1991 | Renamed to IDO Bathroom | Complete separation from the “Arabia” brand |
It seems toilets with the Arabia logo were manufactured until 1991. The toilet in my old university apartment must have dated back to that era. It was surprisingly clean, though! I often see the “IDO” mark in Finnish bathrooms now; I never knew it was the successor to Arabia.
The Arrival of Moomin Designs
1950s: Moomin Tableware for Children
In the 1950s, Arabia’s designer tableware was booming. Around this time, Tove Jansson’s Moomin novels were being released one after another and gaining popularity in Finland. These two trends merged, resulting in a children’s tableware set decorated by Tove Jansson herself. At the time, however, these were strictly positioned as items for children.
1990: The Birth of the Modern Moomin Series
In 1990, Moomin tableware was revived. This was triggered by the global hit of the animated series “Moomin,” a joint production between Japan, Finland, and the Netherlands. Designer Tove Slotte established the method of applying Moomin illustrations onto the already-perfected “Teema” designs, with Tove Jansson’s permission to use the original drawings.
This gave birth to the Moomin mug series that continues to this day. Interestingly, of the €680 million Moomin business revenue in 2024, nearly 50% comes from the Japanese market (Cf. Nikkei and MONOCLE).
Appendix: History of Parent Companies
Today, Arabia is a brand under the Fiskars Group. Wedgwood and Royal Copenhagen also belong to the same group.
| Period | Parent Company | Background |
| 1873 – 1916 | Rörstrand | Export base for the Russian market |
| 1916 – 1947 | Finnish Investor Group | Independence period; Rörstrand faced financial crisis after WWI |
| 1947 – 1990 | Wärtsilä | Post-WWII inflation and rising costs |
| 1990 – 2007 | Hackman | Renamed to “Iittala” in 2003; Merged Arabia, Iittala, and Rörstrand |
| 2007 – Present | Fiskars Group | Acquired Iittala Group; Now part of their luxury lifestyle division |
Considering that one-third of sales were to the Russian market in the early 20th century, the expansion of their current market is truly staggering.
Summary
- Arabia was founded as a subsidiary of Rörstrand to enter the Russian market.
- In its early days, Arabia produced fireplace tiles and toilets.
- For factory efficiency, the tableware and sanitary departments were split.
- Arabia became a leading tableware brand for Nordic design.
- The modern Moomin mug series was born in 1990.
- My apartment’s Arabia toilet seems to be a pre-1991 relic.
Whether it’s a toilet or a dinner plate, the requirement for it to be dirt-resistant and hygienic remains the same. The reason Arabia is a national brand in Finland is surely because of its history of supporting various aspects of daily life.
That’s all for now! Hei hei!
References
- “Arabia Porslinsfabrik 1873-” Signaturer.se（https://www.signaturer.se/Europa/arabia.htm）2026.3.15アクセス
- “History” Arabia135.fi（https://arabia135.fi/en/history/）2026.3.15アクセス
- “Arabian historia | Iittala” iittala.com（https://www.iittala.com/fi-fi/arabia/arabian-tarina/arabia-historia）2026.3.15アクセス
- “Sanitec Corporation” Company-Histories.com（https://www.company-histories.com/Sanitec-Corporation-Company-History.html）2026.3.15アクセス
- “Kaakeliuuni historia” Perinnemestari.fi （https://perinnemestari.fi/kunnostaminen/historia-tyyli/kaakeliuuni-historia）2026.3.15アクセス
- “Arabia” archyvio.com（https://archyvio.com/brands/arabia/）2026.3.15アクセス
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