The essential colours of Teema

Kaj Franck’s idea was to replace traditional dinnerware – with its innumerable different plates, dishes, and bowls – with a much simpler range that people could select from according to their needs. 'Blow up your dinnerware' became his most well-known saying of the time. A circle, a square, and a rectangle, decorated by colours alone, formed the basis for the Kilta range, which was officially launched in 1952.

 

The ending of Kilta production created a need for a similar tableware in Finland, which proved the catalyst for an updated version, known as Teema, launched a few years later. Working quietly behind the scenes, Franck and Arabia designed an ‘improved’ version of Kilta, and this was officially announced as the Teema range in 1981.

 

The updated range saw whiteware replaced by harder-wearing stoneware and small changes made to the details of the design. The initial Teema range included 18 items, available in black or white.

The mix and match concept central to the Teema range could not be more contemporary today. However by the early years of the new millennium the range had expanded to such an extent in terms of colours and forms, that it was decided it was time for a review. The task of updating the range was given to two of Kaj Franck’s former colleagues, Oiva Toikka and Heikki Orvola. They introduced various small changes to the range to make it better suited to modern needs, while still very much respecting Kaj Franck’s original vision. The new Teema range, with even more mix and match potential, was launched at the beginning of 2005. Currently Teema is available in a wider selection of items in white, and in a more limited range in powder, black, grey, blue and red.