Amazon.com Review: While most iittala dinnerware embraces form over ornamentation, Taika breaks the mold. True, the forms are clean and simple, but the surfaces are wildly decorated with imaginative owls, foxes, and trees in a rich Nordic tradition. Taika means magic in Finnish, and the enchanted forest theme is apt. The designer of these fanciful scenes is Finnish illustrator and artist Klaus Haapaniemi, a rising star in the international design world. Each porcelain mug, bowl, or plate comes in either a white or midnight-blue background, which allows for individualized expression in mixing together or with iittala's all-white Aika dinnerware.
This 4-1/2-inch saucer pairs with the Taika espresso cup and offers enough room on the perfectly flat rim for a chocolate cookie with an after-dinner shot of espresso. Haapaniemi's illustrations fully adorn the saucer, which showcases his mysterious owl in the center. The festive espresso cups seem to have a special appeal during the holiday season. Made in Finland of durable porcelain, all Taika dinnerware is safe for use in the oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. --Ann Bieri
