Finnish tableware that foreign visitors can’t resist—is your favorite among them?
South Koreans love stripes, and the Japanese value hand-painted dishes. Sellers of both vintage and new tableware reveal what foreign visitors like to buy in Finland.
The entrepreneur behind Finnish secondhand store Muija, Taina Vuorela, notes that 50–60 percent of the shop’s sales go abroad.
“Japan is currently our most significant group of foreign buyers. China was a good market for a time, but we’ve stopped shipping there for now. Apparently, they don’t want their currency flowing out of the country,” Vuorela explains.
Tableware store Astialiisa sees the same trend: the largest group of foreign customers comes from Japan, says shopkeeper Tiina Westerlund. Overseas visitors buy tableware from specialty stores while traveling in Finland. Many vintage shops also operate online and ship worldwide. For example, Astialiisa’s website has been translated into Japanese.
Vuorela lists top picks for Japanese buyers: Arabia’s Apila, Kilta, Teema (especially in yellow, older gray, and turquoise), Arabia’s S-model coffee cups in various series, and Pentik’s Halla collection—primarily cups and small bowls. Rut Bryk and Birger Kaipiainen.
“Iittala’s Origo goes mainly to Europe. Meanwhile, South Koreans adore Arabia’s striped dishes.”
“Old Arabia cups also sell in Japan. They are too small for Finnish tastes.”Tiina Westerlund
Finnish and foreign customers’ favorite dishes are quite similar, Westerlund says.
“However, Japanese customers place a higher value on hand-painted items. For instance, Arabia’s Koralli is popular in Asia, while Finns aren’t as keen on it.”
Vuorela notes that while more decorative older designs—such as Arabia’s Maisema, Fasaani, and Suomen kukka—sell well in Finland, Japan prefers completely white older pieces.
“Old Arabia cups also sell in Japan. They’re too small for Finnish preferences.”
When it comes to new tableware, tastes can vary more between Finnish and international buyers, but that doesn’t always show up in their purchases, points out Stockmann’s home category director Anna Seppälä.
“For example, French and British buyers tend to like more decorative pieces than Finns do. But when they pick up Finnish tableware, they appreciate its Scandinavian timelessness.”
Travelers often bring home Teema, Taika, Paratiisi, and Moomin mugs—the last being a top best-seller.
