When teak was introduced in the Nordics in the early 1950s it was seen as something new and exotic - a darker, more beautiful alternative to the native light pine and birch. Well known designers such as Bruno Mathsson, Tapio Wirkkala, Bertel Gardberg, Hans Wegner and many more fully embraced the new material and created … Continue reading Swedish mid century teak manufacturers and artists
Tag: industrial design
The golden age of Finnish design at the Triennales
Ever so often there's a design and architecture exhibition held in Milan, Italy called the Triennale and from 1933 to 1964 Finland triumphantly cleaned out the awards table. Suddenly the world saw Finland in a different light and it gave the country a much needed confidence boost. Many of the awarded items and exhibits have since … Continue reading The golden age of Finnish design at the Triennales
Finel – beautiful colorful enamel products from Finland
Finel is a trademark under which Wärtsilä and Järvenpää Emali sold enamel metal items such as bowls and pots starting in the early 1950s. At first the designs had to be bought from abroad but soon Wärtsilä's subsidiary company Arabia assigned well known designers to make new models. Designers such as Seppo Mallat (pots and … Continue reading Finel – beautiful colorful enamel products from Finland
Eero Rislakki – a pioneer in industrial design
Designer, artist and teacher Eero Rislakki is seldom mentioned in Finnish design history in spite of his wide body of work and many awards. This is the story of Finland's first industrial designer. Rislakki (1924-2017) long resided in Helsingborg, Sweden but he was born in Helsinki, Finland. As a little boy he liked creating and carving things … Continue reading Eero Rislakki – a pioneer in industrial design
