Kaj Franck - A Designer´s Utopia
The Finnish Glass Museum, Riihimäki
- 10.2.2024–12.5.2024
Kaj Franck (1911–1989) was a Finnish glass and ceramic designer whose creations are a perfect marriage of geometrical form, colour, multifunctionality and timeless elegance. His designs draw inspiration from nature and from Japanese arts and crafts.
Kaj Franck (1911–1989) was a Finnish glass and ceramic designer whose creations are a perfect marriage of geometrical form, colour, multifunctionality and timeless elegance. His designs draw inspiration from nature and from Japanese arts and crafts.
Franck carved out a long career at the Arabia ceramics company (1945–1961) and the Nuutajärvi glassworks (1950–1976). His notable designs for the Arabia factory include the Kilta tableware collection (1953), which later evolved into the Teema tableware series (1981). His specialization at Nuutajärvi was pressed glassware. Franck took a special interest in exploring the optical properties of glass. He experimented with many techniques including bubble glass, ‘exploded’ cased glass, filigree and a self-invented ring technique he developed in the 1960s and 1970s. His ringed plates and bowls are among his most famous glass objects. While his functional glassware is thin and lightweight, he was equally skilled in the medium of heavier glass sculpture. On top of his extensive work as a designer, Franck was a teacher, head instructor and artistic director at the Helsinki Institute of Industrial Arts (1945–1969) and was later appointed professor of design (1973–1978).
Although Franck is acclaimed primarily as a designer of glass and ceramics, he graduated in furniture design. During his long and varied career, he also designed furniture, printed fabrics, plasticware and interiors. His work is characterized by open-minded experimentation and bold combinations of materials.
Museum exhibitions
Museum events
- Museoiden yö Riihimäellä 17.5.2024
- Kansainvälisenä museopäivänä 18.5.2024 Laura Laineen taiteilijatapaaminen klo 12
- Yleisöopastuksia Saara Hopea - Valintana kauneus -näyttelyyn
- Riihimäki Summer Concerts 4th–9th June 2024
- Riihimäki Summer Concerts 4th–9th June 2024
- Riihimäki Summer Concerts 4th–9th June 2024
- Riihimäki Summer Concerts 4th–9th June 2024
- Riihimäki Summer Concerts 4th–9th June 2024
- Lasipäivä 15.6.2024
Osana kulttuurikierrosta
Museum contact details
The Finnish Glass Museum
Tehtaankatu 23, 11910 Riihimäki
050 500 1956
Yhteydet julkisilla
Näytä reitti museolle Matkahuollon reittioppaassa
Katso reitti Matkahuollon reittioppaassa
Päämäärä:
The Finnish Glass Museum, Tehtaankatu 23, 11910 Riihimäki
Lähtöpiste:
Admission fees
11/6/4/0 €
Payment methods
Käteinen, museokortti, pankkikortit, Visa, Mastercard, Smartum kulttuurisetelit ja mobiilimaksu, E-passi, Edenred korttimaksu
Opening hours
Mon | Closed |
Tue | 10:00-17:00 |
Wed | 10:00-17:00 |
Thu | 10:00-17:00 |
Fri | 10:00-17:00 |
Sat | 10:00-17:00 |
Sun | 10:00-17:00 |
Jan closed, The days before official holidays open 10-16
Accessibility [the criteria]
- Accessible
- Accessible toilet
- Disabled parking
- Restricted accessibility: Muut tilat paitsi museon parvi
- Seating inside the exhibition
- Wheelchair on loan