International
Magazine
Arts & Crafts
Travel Adventures
Stories & Pix
Terrific Travel
Arts & Crafts on Travel Adventures
Kintaus, Finland
Interntional Magazine
© 2004 Bonita Productions Inc.
Finland Flag
Handmade Wooden Horses At Kintaus, Finland
By Bonnie Neely, Photos by Bill Neely
In the little village of Kintaus, Finland, near Jyvaskyla, we found a marvelous young carpenter artist at work creating the most beautiful rocking horses we'd ever seen. She is Terhi Aikas, who is a 1998 graduate of Central Finland Arts & Crafts Institute. She began KEINUHEVOSIA, her own business, the following year in Jyvaskyla but chose to have her carpenter workshop in the area of Koskensaari Nail Factory in the old factory repair shop.
When we entered her wood shop we were amazed at the number of horses we saw, in every stage of design from wood blocks to rough cut, to hand carving, to hand finishing, to ready to sell. Each of these wonderful horses has a unique personality and different style, all from the well-trained artistic concepts of the young artisan.
Keinuhevosia Workshop Terhi Aikas
Terhi has fond childhood memories of her own rocking horse and began at a young age conceiving of how she could perfect rocking horse designs. She says, "My business idea has been from the very beginning to manufacture high-quality hand-carved rocking horses for children and interior decorators."
Hand Carved Horse Sculptures
She also makes hand carved sculptures of horses. She has always loved horses and was especially inspired by the childhood story of Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Langstrump (a Swedish author's character of a courageous girl who had a horse as her best friend.) Now her dog, Souno, keeps her company as she works.
Terhi & Horse Puppet Terhi's Faithful Friend
Terhi won the Best Ad Design in Finland in which her horse RIPA was used. As she designs and creates her equine works of art, Terhi intuits within her artistic mind exactly how each should look and feel. Each horse is a different and special and unique work of art. Her great love of horses is quite apparent, as are her experiences with horses and delighting in them as a little girl.
Miss Aikas remarked with a twinkle in her eye, "I always dreamed of riding horses and marrying an American Cowboy!"
Terhi Does All The Processes By Hand
Terhi purchases raw wood at the sawmill and carefully dries it herself in order to insure the quality. She uses Finnish linden wood, alder or birch. The surface is treated with cooked linseed oil or wax. As each special order for a horse is placed, Terhi interviews the client and gets a picture in her own mind's eye of just how the horse that person wants should look, how the eyes and head should be set. She can see and feel the horse in her mind and in her heart, which is evident in the finished pieces. She names each rocking horse and tests each carefully for safety. Each is numbered and signed and will continue to increase in value as a work of art.
Handmade Rocking Horses in Workshop
The size and detail determine the price. Her range, so far, has been from about $400 to $800 dollars (US). Contact her or place orders here.
This young artist has already exhibited several times in Helsinki, Tampere, and Kangasala in various shows. I want to write a book from gathering stories from children who have been playing with my rocking horses. I have already made nearly a hundred. She hopes to exhibit in Japan next year, the Year of the Horse. She also hopes to exhibit in the United States and all around Europe.
Real Travel Adventures Web Magazine
Thanks for visiting us!
© 2004 Bonita Productions Inc
If any links don't work