Arabia’s Harlekiini vases: captivating hues you’ll want to collect—which color is your favorite?

The shades are deep and rich. Kaarina Aho (1925–1990) designed Harlekiini vases in various shades of brown, grayish green, olive green, and mustard yellow. There is also a white version. These vases showcase Arabia’s remarkable glazing and color expertise during the 1950s and 1960s.

The shuttle-shaped vases feature relief-like grids created by pressing, faintly resembling the costume worn by the Harlequin-type servant in Italian commedia dell’arte. This mischievous character often appeared on stage in an outfit composed of colorful triangular or diamond-shaped patches.

Depending on their size, the vases can range in value from 30–95 euros. Thanks to various glaze experiments, they come in multiple hues, including white, bluish tones, and shades of light to very dark brown.

Primarily, the shape and decorative motif link the vases to the era’s preference for graphic, geometric styles, and perhaps also to Kaj Franck. Aho worked on Franck’s team and contributed to his Kilta series.

The Harlekiini series was produced from 1959 to 1965, by which time Aho had already left Arabia for her own ceramics studio. The vases are made of faience, which is more porous than porcelain and complements design approaches that emphasize a casual, modern style.