These are a set of five Finnish high relief
wood carvings of a traditional
Finnish Sauna or 'Taking Sauna". Almost everyone in Finland either has a wood burning sauna in their back yards or has access to a sauna. The "taking sauna" is a part of Finnish culture.
A rock oven is heated with wood, then water is poured on stones which are placed on top of the oven. The stones give off steam. The steam creates the sauna or steam bath. More steam and heat is received by sitting higher in the sauna.
When the heat of the sauna becomes uncomfortable folks will take a cold shower outside, jump in the lake, or roll in the snow. The skin pores immediately close from the cold and the heat from the sauna is trapped inside. Sometimes silver birch branches are used to whip the skin gently which has calming effect and stimulates circulation.
These five carvings depict a story of a family taking a sauna. Even the baby is having a sauna. Later it looks like a neighbor may be entering the sauna and the man of the house has seen him sneaking in. The man chases the interloper off as he runs from the sauna. These carvings have so much detail in carving and shading enhancing the story they tell.
Each is carved from one piece of wood using hand carving tools and some wood burning techniques. There is an initial of TPI on each one or it could be TR. Each carving is about 10 x 12 inches, each one being a slightly different size, and one being 11 x 17 inches. These were probably made over some length of time and perhaps
cut from different trees, most probably
Finnish pine trees. If you have more information about these or similar carvings please let me know. Cultural history, tradition, and folk art are great inspirations to me. This post is part of
Mud Colony's what's happening in the studio. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
These reliefs are great! My hub loooves going into a Finnish sauna. He says it's THE best (and is like the reliefs depict.) But I, wimp that I am, can't take the heat.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter, Linda!
I have never been in a sauna. It doesn't sound like much fun to me. I enjoyed the sequence of the five pieces.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting reliefs and story behind them. I'm with Kittie and can't take the heat either. Have a very Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I shared your post with the FinnFest USA Facebook-page. Perhaps someone there has more info about these lovely carvings.
ReplyDeleteThose reliefs are amazing. It has been ages since I have been in a sauna.
ReplyDeleteI like these folk craft work. They are interesting story tellers. : )
ReplyDeleteThey are amazing pieces. Love seeing the different crafts that tell a story.. Thanks for sharing.. :) Annie..
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful work, both in the craft and in recording the culture. Love them - though saunas are not for me. (Far too recently they were used as a tool in diagnosing MS - send the patient into one, and see how they fare. If they come out unable to walk or blind a provisional diagnosis was made. Shudder.)
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful wood work! My hubby sits in a sauna every night at the gym.
ReplyDeleteHi Kittie, thanks, I think it's one of those things you have to build up to.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Sparrow, thanks, it is supposed to be very cleansing cleaning all the impurities from the skin.
Hi Marguerite, thanks, it is probably a forerunner to a health spa. Ha.
Hi Eeva, thanks, oh that's super I hope someone knows about the wood carvings or artist who did them.
Hi Patti, thanks, it's been ages for me too, Gary said his family used one every Saturday.
Hi Midori, thanks, isn't it wonderful what can be done with folk art.
Hi Annie, thanks, amazing how an inanimate object can tell a story, I love the detail of the trees and the skies and rocks, truly inspiring.
Hi Elephant's Child, thanks, I had never heard that about MS, kind of scary, but I think the heat could make anyone pass out if they stayed in there long enough.
Hi Gigi, thanks, one of these days we hope to build our own sauna. We used to have a hot tub at one of our mountain homes and Gary loved to go in and walk back to the house in the snow.
I am sure a sauna is very healthy...not sure if I could stand the heat. Nice folk art...maybe you can make something similar in you clay.
ReplyDeleteIncredible carvings. The pictures really tell the story. I love a good sauna. I haven't tried jumping in a frozen lake, though! Seems crazy.
ReplyDeleteWOW! The carvings look awesome and I can tell that they’re made by very crafty hands. Saunas are known to be sacred to the Finns, and that it’s really a great part of their culture. Anyway, I saw in your replies that you’re planning to build your own sauna. I have one at home and it’s really good to have your own sauna. You’ll maximize the benefits of sauna baths when you have regular steam baths at home. I hope you can update me when you’ve already installed one in your home :D
ReplyDelete- Neil Dalby -
I really like that it sort of portrays a story rather than just being representation of people going to the baths and saunas. That being said, there is a certain allure to going to wooden sauna baths and enjoying a nice steam bath once in a while, especially after a long day’s work.
ReplyDeleteLucy
Beautiful! We have some that are similar and wonder how much they are worth. Would you happen to know?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if anyone ever found out anything about these. I have one as well but come up short researching it.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if anyone ever found out anything about these. I have one as well but if a different scene and come up with nothing when researching it.
ReplyDelete