Finch, Alfred William (1854 - 1930)

A painter and ceramist of Belgian origin. Up to 1880 he studied at the Art Academy of Brussels. In 1884 he joined Henry Clemens van de Velde to found the Belgian art group ”Les Vingt”. In 1890 Anna Boch offered him the post of art director at the porcelain factory of Boch Fréres in La Louviére. He took part in exhibitions after 1894. Between 1897 and 1901 he headed a ceramics workshop named ’’Iris” in Borgao, Finland; later he taught at the College of Applied Arts in Helsinki. He designed articles for ”La Maison Modeme” and the for the Arabia O. Y. porcelain factory in Helsinki. Between 1902 and 1930 he was head of the ceramics department at the College of Applied Arts in Helsinki.