It Was Everywhere In The '60s- Now It's The Nostalgic Dishware Hiding In Thrift Stores

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If you've ever stumbled upon old dishware at a thrift store that has pretty blue floral designs on white ceramic or maybe even a painted cat picture on the front, you might have unknowingly passed by an Arabia Finland piece. And it might be worth a quick trip back to see if you can still snag it. To understand why, it helps to have an idea of how it all started. In the post-World War II era, a group of Finnish artists and designers set out to create dishware that was functional but still beautiful, with the idea that it would be affordable, long-lasting, and something people could be proud to own. By the 1960s, these dishware pieces could be found in many households and even restaurants. It was commonly used as something parents would pass down to their children, with a rich history.

While they are still making new pieces today, the ever-popular 1960s period pieces are showing up in second-hand stores for lucky vintage foragers to find. So if you're looking for vintage dishware brands to bring your kitchen retro charm, keep your eyes peeled for Arabia Finland items. The unique, old-time aesthetic is just part of the appeal, though. Their serving bowls, specifically the white ones with black mushroom designs, have been found at thrift stores for as low as $4. Compare that to the same bowl listed on Etsy for $158, and you'll see why it's the vintage dinnerware brand you'd be thrilled to find at the thrift store.

If you're wondering whether the piece you found tucked into a stack of kitchenware at Goodwill is really Arabia Finland, just flip it over. There will be a factory stamp on the bottom, indicating that it is indeed part of the Arabia Finland collection. There are a couple of variations of the stamp you're looking for. From 1949 to 1971, the factory stamp was a simple three-prong crown with the word ARABIA in all caps underneath. Sometimes the addition of "made in finland" will be found below that. More recent versions feature the same three-pronged crown with the words ARABIA FINLAND underneath.

To keep your vintage porcelain in tip-top shape for years to come, don't toss it into the dishwasher with all your other plates and cups. Instead, carefully hand-wash each Arabia Finland piece. You might also want to think twice before using older pieces as part of your regular dinnerware rotation. There were no strong regulations on the use of lead in things like paint and clear glaze on ceramics before 1970. So if your pieces are from the '60s, you may want to consider them collectibles and display them instead. Alternatively, consider having them tested for lead before using them regularly, which can be done with an at-home kit, like this NewPos Lead Test Kit from Amazon.