Hand Woven Tapestry / Ryijy “Pyry”, Raija Rastas, Suomen Käsityön Ystävät, 1990s

A minimal wall tapestry by Finnish textile artist Raija Rastas, woven by Marita Mattsson for Suomen Käsityö Ystävät, the most respected maker of traditional Finnish ryijy rugs and wall tapestries. The design, titled Pyry, meaning snowstorm or blizzard, uses soft white and grey tones to beautifully capture the feeling of drifting snow. The piece is hand woven and has the calm, meditative quality characteristic of the best Finnish textile art. Raija Rastas is a Finnish textile artist whose work is rooted in close observation of nature. She works with weaving, embroidery and mixed textile techniques, often drawing inspiration from the changing seasons, light and landscapes around her home in Vantaa. A graduate of the University of Art and Design Helsinki (now Aalto University), she is an active member of several Finnish art and design associations.