Designer of March, Toini Muona
Award-winning ceramist
The Finnish ceramist Toini Muona (1904-1988) was an important name in the Finnish art world, especially in ceramics. Her career was long and varied, leaving his mark both on the history of the Arabia factory and on Finnish ceramic art in general. Muona was awarded several prizes both at Finland and abroad.
Ceramic table lamp, Toini Muona, Arabia, 1950s (Fargo Vintage & Design)
Education and early career
Muona studied at the School of Applied Arts, graduating as a model draughtsman in 1926. She continued in the ceramics department and worked at the Ateneum Ceramics Studio until 1932.
A career at the Arabia factory
In 1931, Muona moved to the Arabia factory, where she soon became an artist in the newly established art department. This began a long and successful period at Arabia,
which continued until her retirement in 1970.
Photo below: Arabia artist from the 1940s.
Writing about Toini Muona in the Seura -magazine in 1937
A creative influencer and versatile trendsetter
Muona was one of the most important and respected names in the Finnish art industry in the 1930s and 1950s. She was a trendsetter and challenged the Western classical design tradition with asymmetry and imperfection. Her ceramic forms were inspired by nature, among other things.
Muona's talent was not limited to ceramic art. She also designed textiles for Atelier Vigil and glass works for the Riihimäki glass factory and the Nuutajärvi glass factory.
''If you happen to enter Toini Muona's studio when she is working, it is as if there is a wizard in a magic circle in front of your eyes, in contact with mystical forces and beings.''
Margaretha Bjurström, Svenska Dagbladet 1.10.1944
Set of table lamps, Toini Muona, Arabia, 1940s (Fargo Vintage & Design)
Table lamp, Toini Muona, Arabia, 1950s (Fargo Vintage & Design)
Major awards and recognition
During his career, Toini Muona has received many prestigious awards and recognitions that testify to his importance in the art world. These include:
- Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale 1951
- Pro Arte Utili Medal in Faenza, 1955
- State Prize for the Arts and Crafts in 1957
Legacy
Toini Muona's legacy lives on. Her work has been exhibited in many museums and her memorial exhibition was held at the Museum of Decorative Arts in 1988. Muona's work has also been exhibited in various galleries, including the Retret Art Centre in the summer of 2002. A street in Arabianranta, Helsinki, has also been named after her.
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