Arabia Moomin Bowl #46
Ancestor (2016–)
Price estimate
500+ users have this in collection
Due to many requests, the Ancestor got his own character mug and bowl in 2016, and it is still in production. A mug and a plate with the same design were launched simultaneously. In the autumn of 2016...
Due to many requests, the Ancestor got his own character mug and bowl in 2016, and it is still in production. A mug and a plate with the same design were launched simultaneously. In the autumn of 2016 the series was completed by a jar and a pitcher. The black bowl pictures the Ancestor, who lives behind the tile stove in the Moomin House. The Ancestors came to life in Tove Jansson’s book The Moomins and the Great Flood, and Tove Slotte chose the images for the bowl from Tove Jansson’s novel Moominland Midwinter. The names of the characters have been stamped on the bottoms of the bowls since 2016.
Additional information
Name
Ancestor
Product category
Moomin Bowl
Bowl number
46
Production period
2016–
Theme
Characters
Brand
Arabia
Bottom stamp
1 different
Product designer
Kaj Franck
Graphic designer
Tove Slotte
Characters
Ancestor
Fillyjonk
Original image
Book - Moominland Midwinter (1957) - Tove Jansson
Measurements
Height: 4.5, Width: 14.8, Diameter: 14.8 cm
Weight
320 g
Volume
450 ml
Color
Black
Material
Vitro porcelain
Type
Bowl
Bottom stamps (1)
Designers
Kaj Franck
Kaj Franck was born on November 9, 1911 in Vyborg. He was one of the most internationally known Finnish glass and ceramic designers. In 1932, Franck graduated from the School of Art and Design as a furniture designer. After graduation, Franck worked as a catalog designer, interior designer, and furniture designer. Franck was the artistic director of the Nuutajärvi glass factory from 1950 to 1973. In addition to this, he worked as a teacher at the Art School in 1945 and later as its artistic director from 1960–1969. Kaj Franck has designed products for Arabia, Iittala and Artek, among others. Franck's best-known works are the Kilta series, the Teema series and the Kartio glasses. During his career, Kaj Franck won several awards and received recognition for his design work at the Milan Triennial in 1951, 1954 and the Milan Triennial Grand Prix in 1957. He has also received the Compasso d’Oro Prize, the Lunning Prize, the Prince Eugen Medal and Pro Finlandia. In 1972, he was awarded the title of Professor and Honorary Doctor of the Royal College of Art in London in 1983. Kaj Franck died at the age of 77 in 1989.
Tove Slotte
Tove Slotte, born in 1957, is a Finnish artist and a graphic designer. She is a professional ceramist. Tove Slotte worked at Arabia from 1985 to 1990, after which she has worked as a freelance designer. She is best known for designing and illustrating the Moomin products for Iittala and Arabia ceramics. Tove Slotte has been a Moomin fan since her childhood. She says her favourite Moomin book is The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My. Tove Slotte has designed the Moomin products for Arabia for more than 30 years.
Characters
Ancestor
The Moomins’ Ancestor is a hairy, grey little troll. An Ancestor has a tail and a big snout like the Moomins, but it is covered in long hair. A peculiar thing about Ancestors is that they don’t speak or eat at all. The Ancestors lived behind the tile stove. There is not very much knowledge on the mystical Ancestors, but the first time they appeared was in Tove Jansson’s novel Moominland Midwinter.
Fillyjonk
Ms Fillyjonk is a friend of principles and good order. She is a caring and nervous mother, who only wants her kids to avoid the influence of bad company. Obeying the rules is very important to Fillyjonk, and sometimes she gets very upset over the tiniest obstacle. As Fillyjonk is very fond of cleaning and almost symmetrical order, sometimes the kids and their wild energy gets on her nerves quite a lot. However, Fillyjonk seems to secretly envy the relaxed and casual life of the Moomin family. Fillyjonk lives in a fenced house in Moominvalley with her three children. She wears a red dress, a hat and carries a purse. Fillyjonk’s kids are also dressed in matching clothes. Fillyjonk first appears in Tove Jansson’s novel The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My.
