The history of Swedish ceramics production is interwoven with that of Rörstrand. Rörstrand was founded in 1726 and is one of Sweden’s oldest manufacturing industries with a history uninterrupted since Frihetstiden, known in English as The Age of Freedom, a period of Swedish history in the 18th century. Rörstrand founded Arabia in 1873 to facilitate trade in Russia. In 1914, Göteborgs porslinfabrik (Gothenborgs porcelain factory) was bought and Rörstrand moved operations there in 1926 when the factory in Stockholm was closed down. After the merger with Lidköpings porslinsfabrik in 1929, Rörstrand’s relocation from Gothenborg to Lidköping began. The move was completed in 1936 and Lidköping became Rörstrand’s headquarters. Rörstrand became part of the Uppsala-Ekeby Group between 1963 and 1984 and was then bought by the Finnish company Wärtsilä Oy in 1984. In 1987 Wärtsilä Oy bought Gustavsbergs porslinsfabrik and the Finnish Hackman Group acquired the company in 1990.