BIRGER KAIPAIPIANEN (Finnish 1915-1988) The life size figure of bird fabricated out of a metal frame decorated with horizontal and vertically formatted strung beaded lengths in greens, oranges and tans, the front of chicken centering an oval panel with pale blue beaded lengths. the back of the bird with blue triangular wing tip panels, the whole on cylindrical foot attached to hand wrought metal sheet, inscribed KAIPAIPIANEN on the metal base. "Bead Bird"Stoneware, Bronze, and Metal. Dimensions 23 1/4 x 22 1/2 x 11 inches (59.1 x 57.2 x 27.9 cm). Birger Kaipianinen (Finnish 1915-1988) is best known as a ceramicist; he has been dubbed both the "Prince of Ceramics" and "King of Ornament".. He worked for 50 years for the Finish Arabia Company until the day he died in his studio at the Arabia factory. He developed a line of colorful studio art pottery chargers depicting fruits and flowers which were influenced by art of the Renaissance as well as the arts and crafts of his native Finland. By 1950, he began to create faÔence (glazed earthenware) objects that he called ìprismsî, which were inspired by Byzantine figures. After spending time in Sweden he branched out to sculpture, making figures of whimisical birds out of beads like the one in this lot as well as horses.