Kauppaneuvos

Kaija Aarikka
Kaija-Aarikka in 1949
Kaija-Aarikka in 1949
Born(1929-02-03)3 February 1929
Somero, Finland
Died14 August 2014(2014-08-14) (aged 85)
Helsinki, Finland
Alma materTaideteollinen Oppilaitos
Known forWood objects
Spouse
Erkki Ruokonen
​
​
(m. 1954, died)​
AwardsPro Finlandia (1994)

Kaija Helena Aarikka-Ruokonen (3 February 1929 – 14 August 2014) was a Finnish designer and entrepreneur.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and education

Kaija Aarikka was born in Somero to a farming family; her parents were Väinö Aarikka and Alma Maria née Kares.[1]

She completed lower secondary school[lower-alpha 1] in 1945, and later studied textile arts and design at the Taideteollinen Oppilaitos school of design (now part of Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture), graduating in 1954.[1]

Career

Aarikka with her husband and business partner Erkki Ruokonen (c. 1950s)

In 1954, Aarikka co-founded together with her husband the eponymous design bureau Aarikka, to design and manufacture initially wooden buttons[5][6] and decorative and household items, later expanding also into personal accessories, dress jewellery and giftware.[2][1][3][5] She worked there as the firm's head designer and artistic director for most of her career, also taking over management duties including chairing the Board of Directors from 1977.[1]

The first Aarikka store opened in 1960, and by the 1980s there were 20.[7]

Aarikka is best known for her simplistic wooden designs, often in characteristic round shapes.[3] One of her most iconic creations is the wooden Pässi ('Ram') sculpture.[8]

From the early 1970s onwards, she also provided free-lance design services for Humppila and Ahlstrom glassworks (both now part of Iittala) as well as for Tampella textiles.[1][3][5] One of Aarikka's glass designs for Humppila is in the British Museum collections.[7]

Awards and honours

In 1994, Aarikka received the Pro Finlandia medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.[9][8]

In 1999, to mark her 70th birthday, the honorary title of Kauppaneuvos was bestowed on Aarikka.[2]

Personal life

In 1954, Aarikka married businessman Erkki Ruokonen; the couple had three daughters.[1]

Her favourite pastimes included theatre, literature, and outdoor pursuits.[1]

She died, aged 85, following a long illness.[4][5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Keskikoulu, in the Finnish school system before the 1970s restructuring.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kuka Kukin On (Who's Who) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. 1978. p. 17. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Aarikka-Ruokonen, Kaija". Uppslagsverket.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Aarikka, Kaija (1929-2014)". Kansallisbiografia.fi (in Finnish). National Biography of Finland. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Muotoilija Kaija Aarikka on kuollut". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 16 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Muotoilija Kaija Aarikka on kuollut" (in Finnish). Yle. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  6. ↑ Burroughs, Katrina (3 September 2017). "Why Finnish design deserves our attention, plus Helsinki Design Week highlights". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Kaija Aarikka". BritishMuseum.org. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Aarikan perustaja Kaija Aarikka on kuollut" (in Finnish). MTV Uutiset. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "SUOMEN LEIJONAN PRO FINLANDIA -MITALIN SAAJAT 1945-2020". Ritarikunnat.fi (in Finnish). The Orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
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