MCM auction at Helander

Heads up if you happen to be in Helsinki this weekend! Helander Auction House will host an MCM auction on Sunday, April 10th.

Of course we went through the list right away when it was published. There are quite a few interesting items to be auctioned, and here are some of our picks. Rather focused on glass- and tableware his time - no wonder, many of them are made by the Finnish masters, Tapio Wirkkala, Kaj Franck and Alvar Aalto.

So, here is what we chose:

948. Juice set by Saara Hopea
The beautiful set consists of 8 drinking glasses and a pitcher placed in a willow basket with a rattan-woven handle. It was designed by a Finnish designer Saara Hopea and manufactured by Nuutajärvi glass factory in 1952, and was in production in 1952 - 1968. The drinking glasses won a silver medal in Milano Triennale 1954.

996. Signed vase by Alvar Aalto
A legendary Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Aalto designed the Savoy vase (also known as Aalto vase) as a part of a competition for Iittala in 1936. It has been in production since 1937 (this ruby red vase to be auctioned was made in 1991), and the same year it was also displayed in the Paris World Fair. Originally, Savoy vase was part of the interior design of Savoy Restaurant in Helsinki, which was also designed by Aalto.

1065. Wall mirror by Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto designed the 192A mirror (120 cm x 50 cm) in 1939, and it is currently manufactured by Artek. The mirror frame of this particular piece is made of birch. We lack a full size mirror in upstairs, which is far from ideal and the 192A mirror would be the perfect size for the hallway in upstairs. But is birch too light, should we search for one made of teak instead?

1075. Kartio drinking glasses by Kaj Franck
Kaj Franck designed the stackable Kartio glass for Iittala in 1958. Franck, who was Iittala's head designer for several years was interested in creating objects for daily use shedding all decorations and aiming for durability and functionality. This set of six coloured drinking glasses is auctioned with their original container.

1242. Glassware byt Tapio Wirkkala
The design of Ultima Thule glassware was inspired by the Northern winter and ice. Tapio Wirkkala, another one world recognized Finnish designer is one of our favourites as is comes to glassware. So as year 2015 marked 100 years since Tapio Wirkkala's birth, it was only appropriate to use an Ultima Thule serving platter as a font in Eino's (who was born in 2015) christening. The set to be auctioned includes 16 different pieces.

1508. Tea and coffee set (Arabia)
Arabia's Kosmos series was named after the decoration designed by Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist and applied on Ulla Procopé's model S tableware. Kosmos was in production between 1962 - 1976. We really like the colour palette of Kosmos - very strong and modest at the same time. The set to be auctioned includes 23 pieces.  

 So, let's see what happens on Sunday...perhaps we'll see you there!

(All photos from the auction catalog) 

Kids, Dogs & Design

According to Jerry Seinfeld, "a two-year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it." Indeed, we could not agree more. Add a dog, and the chaos will multiply exponentially.

Since the very dawn of the Olive Green Window, people have asked us the critical question: how does one manage to mix kids, dogs and design? Now after some years of trial and error, we would like to take the opportunity to show you a collection of photos of every day situations (divided in five categories) in which the miniature members of our pack interact with design. Afterwards, everyone can draw their own conclusions regarding this interesting topic.

1. Marks and scratches
In vintage items, marks and scratches are one clear indicator separating vintage from new. Rather than seeing those as unequivocally negative, we'd like to regard such imperfections as inevitable makings of time, as signs of years passed. That being said we do not mean that we would not prefer a vintage piece in good over poor condition, or would not like to take good care of these items. But being fond of vintage, one needs to have a sufficient tolerance for imperfections.

Serious paint work on the 82B table top by Alvar Aalto

Along the same lines, with kids and dogs one needs to have sufficient tolerance for newly appearing marks and scratches, both permanent and temporary by nature. Most of our daily meals (and all of Sofi's painting and drawing) are enjoyed around the 82B table by Alvar Aalto. Simply said, we love the fact that its laminate top has proven to be practically indestructible!

Sometimes, especially when we are entertaining guests, we use the Tulip table by Eero Saarinen. The Tulip was found from an internet auction and therefore we did not have the possibility to evaluate its condition in a live setting. Once it arrived, it was immediately clear that it had belonged to someone with kids - the table top around the edges is covered with little (spoon?) marks. Does it matter? Were we disappointed? No, not really. It is still a stunningly beautiful table - with a story to tell for the diners.

Spoon marked Tulip

Hiding pens, pencils, markers and all other miscellaneous drawing / writing instruments is an active and continuous process. This preventive activity is something that one quite quickly develops first a skill, then an obsession. We all know it too well - the first day you let go and tune down the 24/7 monitoring, things start to happen in a blink of an eye.

Pencil marks on a brick wall

Of course, sometimes the most interesting things seem to happen on the other side of the door. In those occasions, if you are small and can not reach a door knob, alternative approaches might be tried to break the barrier.

Nail marks on the door

2. Invasion of toys, trash and other junk
We rarely buy new toys, and most pieces in Sofi's collection are recycled treasures or gifts from friends and family. This does not mean her collection would be somehow limited. On the contrary, the pieces are numerous enough to populate the apartment quite densely. We try to keep most of them in Sofi's room, but she has very cleverly and conveniently managed to maintain a toy station in the living room around the Cadovius bookshelf. And as most nights she fails to have sufficient interest in organising them in a proper manner, the Lego blocks remain on the floor just waiting to be stepped on.

Endless battle against the invasion of toys

Urho can be also very creative with his interests, especially when spending time at home alone. The sight below is not uncommon, if something as interesting as for example household cardboard is left by the door waiting to be carried out. Urho takes the corrective feedback like a dachshund - with a miserable, apologising face but not really understanding how something so entertaining and fun could just not be common practise!

It used to be my playground

3. Missing essentials
Most vintage furniture collectors know that one of the most important factors determining the value of a given item is the condition. For us, the concept of condition includes for example materials, upholstery, finishing, original labels - basically everything tangible there is to be considered in a given object. Considering the exploring nature of kids, the sustainability of condition should never been taken for granted.

Something wrong?

As an example, there is a short story to be shared. A while back Pekka witnessed a curious moment in the dining room. On one of her explorations, Sofi had been crawling underneath the Cherner chairs around the Saarinen table. In a very systematic manner she had made her way from one chair to the next one and ripped off the original Plycraft labels attached underneath the seats. All Pekka could do was to bite his lip, accept defeat, and collect and store the random pieces those precious labels in a safe place. 

Original Plycraft label - ripped off

Where it was

4. Knocked down in action
On a frequent basis and as no surprise to anyone, things get knocked down. For example, the day it arrived the Toio floor lamp by Achille Castiglioni got knocked down resulting in a broken bulb. Luckily Sofi, the person responsible for the knock down did not get crushed underneath. Day two the Toio moved in Pekka's office.

And as the photo below indicates, the Toio is only one of many knocked down items. 

AJ (on the) Floor lamp

5. Explorations
During the last 1.5 years, we have focused all our energy and funds on the (endlessly) ongoing renovation project. Basically, this also means that we have had to postpone some of the ongoing restoration projects, one of them being the first generation Eames Lounge chair in the upstairs living room. The chair is in desperate need of new leather upholstery as the original has extensive cracks. The ripped leather has not, however, stopped us from using the chair. Quite contrary - the chair is in use every single day, as it has no structural problems. 

But as always, there is a catch. The ripped leather creates an easy access point to see what hides inside. And for one of us, this seems to be an open invitation to explore the inner parts of the chair. And even more miraculously, some filling from the arm pad has been removed and spread on the living room floor. Any guesses?

Entry point into the first generation Eames Lounge chair

Despite of being a very civilized representative of his breed, Urho also has his primitive moments. Often times, when given a new bone, he treats it like his ancestors when they found food and were not instantly hungry. The excess food is to be hidden well to save it for later consumption. In these occasions, Urho will first sneak around the rooms as long as he finds a suitable hiding place for his treasure.

A dog with a bloody snout

Then, he will place the bone in its hide and try to cover it. Unfortunately, unlike dirt outside in the nature, a fabric or carpet is not "transferable" in the same way than dirt is. As poor Urho does not understand this, sometimes his persistent but unsuccessful attempts leave a visible evidence on site. Fortunately, we had just covered the Toot Sofa by Piero Lissoni with a white sheet, when we came across the sight below. And fortunately, just like the sheet on top, the sofa covers are removable and washable.

A well hidden bone

So, how to conclude or thoughts around kids, dogs and design? Based on the selected examples above, and also reflecting to some key principles of functionalism, we would like to summarise as follows:

1. Remember, it is just furniture. Yes, it might be vintage. Yes, it might be design. But it is still just furniture. Marks and scratches are marks and scratches at the time of purchase. Afterwards,  it is magically transformed to patina. And even in the case of complete disaster, nothing is irreplaceable. The world is full of junk. 
2. If a piece is too precious, leave it. If something is too valuable, too fragile or too special, you already know NOT to get it. However, if you still can't resist, consider how it would look for example in your office. Alternatively, you might want to postpone your purchase for another 10 years. 
3. Be smart when choosing materials. Match the material with the intended purpose. Choose durable materials which are easy to clean and maintain. In other words, the key driver has to be the intended function. Anything completely impractical is just waste of time and money. And investing in quality material pays off. Even with significant wear and tear, a quality material grows old with grace.  
4. Get yourself the right cleaning tools and be prepared to use them often. Nowadays, almost anything can be cleaned. You just need to find the right detergent and choose the right approach. And if we are talking about walls, a new coat of paint won't take too much time. 
5. Provide sufficient distractions. As long as kids and dogs are busy doing other things, they are not busy damaging your vintage furniture or drawing on the walls. Provide them distractions. Hang a painting board in their room. Build a huge sandbox on the backyard. Include them in your projects. Anything goes. Just keep them busy. 
6. Enjoy your home. If you like where you live in, not everything needs to be perfect. The eye is a wondrous thing. It gets used to small imperfections really quickly. Every scratch adds to the character of your piece. 
7. Relax. Don't take it too seriously. With kids and dogs, things happen. Again, it is just furniture. Again, the world is full of junk. 

In the end, it is a home, not a museum. The most important thing is to enjoy the shared moments. Afterwards, the good ones make you smile, but the disastrous ones at the time make the most memorable and entertaining stories!

Two Finnish Masters

An area very central to our every day activities is the space between the kitchen and dining/living room, hosting a small table set by Alvar Aalto. First, we wondered if the little table was located too close to the dining set, and thus not really needed. Now, after a year and a half, we have noticed how extremely practical it actually is. Close to the kitchen, the observation (and if required, reaction) time and distance remain minimal, if anything alarming happens for example in Sofi's end of the table. And, as the laminate surface seems practically impossible to damage and extremely easy to clean, it is perfect considering the junior diners.

Practical approach for daily meals

The "in-between" space actually builds on the work of two Finnish masters, Alvar Aalto and Paavo Tynell. They were both pioneers in their own fields, namely furniture and light design, respectively. Their designs are still highly appreciated and frequently found in many Finnish homes.

Our table is called 82B and the chairs are model 66. They were both designed by Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) in 1935. The set is made of solid birch veneer and accented with white laminate on the surfaces. In 1930's, Aalto's interest on wood processing and his collaboration with Otto Korhonen (the founder of a Finnish furniture manufacturing company Korhonen) led to the development an innovative way to bend wood. The result was an L-shaped leg (patented in 1933) enabling standardised construction of an entire product family. This, in turn paved the way for socially oriented design and architectural planning, as well as mass production methods for manufacturing.

82B & 66, both with laminate surfaces

L-shaped leg #1

L-shaped leg #2

Plywood, on the other hand, was invented in 1850's as a combination of three or more layers of wood. Cheap and easily accessible, it has since been an important medium for experimentation by modernist designers from the 1920's onwards. Cheaper and more easily accessible than aluminium or steel, plywood was a key material for early 20th century designers such as Gerrit Rietveld, Marcel Breuer and Alvar Aalto.

Between the kitchen and living room

Perhaps our favourite Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) piece, a brass pendant light which hangs above the Aalto table, was designed by Tynell and produced by Taito Oy in 1948. Taito Oy, founded in 1918, was one of the most important lighting manufacturers in Finland during the first half of 1900, producing lighting solutions both for domestic and public spaces.

Brass pendant light by Tynell

After the Second World War, when Outokumpu mine started providing brass after war-related efforts, also Tynell started utilising brass in his designs. Very soon, the brass lights become a commercial success both in Finland and US, exports to US starting in 1948 when the Finnish-American Trading Corporation opened a "Finlandia House" in New york. Interestingly, in the US one could not hang a pendant light from its electricity cord, and to overcome this obstacle Tynell developed his famous counter balance light, which later became one of his trademarks.

Pattern from grandma's knickers

The brass pendant light housing has a typical perforation of small holes found in several Tynell lights. We have mentioned this before in a post titled "Northern Lights", but the rumour is worth repeating, as it nicely links these two Finnish masters. Apparently, when noticing the pattern, Alvar Aalto made a remark of a resemblance to his grandmothers knickers (isoäidin pitsipöksyt). 

Pendant parts

As the pendant light has already seen quite many years, it become evident it would benefit for some care when Pekka disassembled it for cleaning. The wiring has already been replaced once before, but a further electric update might soon be in order. Of course, Pekka will share the full story, when the time comes.

Expiring electricity

Urho would also like to use this opportunity to send his winter greetings. He does not mind, however, that this year winter started late and seems to end early. As it has been mentioned before, Urho really does not care much about winter attire (to read about Urho's past interactions with winter clothes please visit "Sneaky Little Sausage"). It is understandable that a handsome dog like Urho prefers to show off his easy-on-the-eye -figure, rather than hiding it in baggy clothes, whatever the latest fashion trends may state... 

Sniffing snow

Northern Lights

We have been collecting antiques for quite a while. Instead of a hobby, it has rather become a way of living, covering all kinds of household items. Interestingly, it all started from collecting vintage lights, and at some point, things got a bit crazy. When Pekka still lived in his old apartment, the shelves of his walk-in closet were so packed with vintage lights there was really no more room for clothes. Since then, we have tuned it down a notch, but there still are many, many lights around the apartment, both in use and in storage. Here are some selected pieces we would like to introduce to you!

In interior design, lighting plays an important role not only from a functional viewpoint (in other words, providing light where it is needed) but also in setting up the ambience of a given space. Given this, lights can be roughly divided in to two distinctive gategories: the "mood lights" and the "functional lights". Additionally, even though most lights in our apartment are from the fifties and sixties, there are some which go back all the way to 1946 and maybe surprisingly also some which are brand new (similarly to the new sofa in the living room).

In our previous postings you have already seen a lot of different lights that we have, yet there are many to be seen. So let's take a little tour, shall we? Starting from the bedroom, above the night stands are the newest lights of the collection. They are Tom Dixon's Beat Lights, falling clearly to the mood light category. Indeed, they are mood lights up to the point that if you are searching for a proper reading light, this is definitely NOT your choice. They provide almost no functional light, and if we'd do ANY reading in bed, they would need to be changed.

Beat light by Tom Dixon

The design of the Beat Lights originated from Dixon's trip to India. Inspired by the local craftsmen, these painted brass lights came to employ some of the traditional techniques Dixon came across during his trip, for example they are spun and hand beaten by skilled craftsmen in Northern India. The way the light makes the brass shine is just beautiful, and the reason why these "non-functional / non-vintage" mood lights still stay in their places.

One of the oldest light of the collection, Paavo Tynell's Tähtitaivas ("Starry Sky"), also resides in the bedroom. This light was produced around 1946 by Taito Oy. The light housing has a typical perforation of small holes found in several Tynell lights. Actually, the rumor is that it was Alvar Aalto who noted this series of small holes reminded him of his grandmothers nickers (isoäidin pitsipöksyt). Tynell's lights are another great example of mood lights. They have often been used in spaces calling for a certain ambience, like cafes, restaurants and movie theaters. On the other hand, they were never renowned for being technologially advanced when compared with the other new arrivals back in the days.

Tähtitaivas by Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy

Even if these two lights are separated by 60 years of age they still work quite nicely together. They both are mood lights, and very appropriate for the bedroom ambience. They also match in terms of color and material, both having a painted matte black exterior surface and a shiny brass interior, which lights up nicely when the light is turned on. Stunning!

The oddball of the bedroom is a ball-shaped light designed by Heikki Turunen from 1970's. Manufactured by Finnish manufacturer Orno, several modifications of this light exist, one of the being this standing version. The round part of this light had actually been designed earlier by an unknown designer. As the design of this light differs significantly from the two other bedroom lights, it wouldn't be surprising if instead of staying here, it would move to some other, more suitable location in the apartment.

Heikki Turunen for Orno

A great example of a functional light is a very anonymous and humble light by Hans Bergström for Swedish company Atelje Lyktan. His table lamp from 1960's, which has a foot stand of black leather, matte black painted share and an adjustable arm, does not stand up too much but located next to the Eames lounge chair, provides a great reading light to a person sitting in the chair.

Table light by Hans Bergstrom for Atelje Lyktan

A pair of lights currently (and unfortunately) in storage, is a pair of Globals by Frank Ligtelijn for Raak from 1960's. Raak has manufactured a wide range of lighting sources including wall and standing lamps as well as hanging models. Designs were often combinations of glass and various metals adding futuristic effect. It is surprising that these two glass balls with 35 cm diameter survived intact from Netherlands to Finland, and subsequently our move from Tapiola to Niittykumpu. We absolutely adore these lights, but as they currently have no set place in our apartment, they are on sale. However, it remains to be seen if we will be able to let this beautiful pair go if (or when) the time comes...

Global by Frank Ligtelijn for Raak

Remember the hunt for the Biny Zodiacs? Well, it has now been ongoing for a few months and as a result we have managed to acquire two more scones. In total, there are now three of Zodiacs in the apartment. Actually there is one more, but as this one is a bit different with a clip it is for sale. We have placed the three Zodiacs to the old electricity sockets found in the ceiling and then tried to find something interesting to light up. The one close to the atrium terrace now emits light to the wooden curtain. The second Zodiac closer to the fireplace has been directed to the Eames house bird, and the third one lights up the two ceramic plates by Lisa Larsson.

Zodiac and the wooden curtain

Zodiac and the House Bird