This ceramic vase is one of two inspired by a Finnish rite of spring. In April, Finnish children welcome spring by dressing up as witches and decorating willow twigs with feathers and small embellishments. Going door to door, the little witches expect small treats in return for their blessing. To wish their neighbours a healthy year, they say ““Virvon, varvon, tuoreeks terveeks, tulevaks vuodeks; vitsa sulle, palkka mulle.” Or, “I wave a twig for a fresh and healthy year ahead; a twig for you, a treat for me!” This Easter Dog Vase is a faithful friend to the Easter Witch Vase and belongs to a family of seven ceramic objects created by COMPANY for Artek’s FIN/JPN Friendship Collection.
What gifts did the Finnish delegation bring to Japan in 1919 to inaugurate Finnish-Japanese diplomatic relations? With this question in mind, Finnish-Korean design-duo COMPANY created their contribution to the FIN/JPN Friendship Collection. The family of six ceramic objects are both decorative and functional; each celebrates a seasonal ritual belonging to the Finnish calendar. Expressive and of disarming naiveté, the family of objects evokes the animist, pagan pasts of Finland. They are hand-made by Artek’s ceramic partner in Portugal, based on a close collaborative development process with COMPANY founders Aamu Song and Johan Olin.
