Marjatta Metsovaara Vibrant Red Seashell Wall Rug/Carpet, 1960s

Finnish rya rugs (wall hangings) date back centuries, were very important and had a pivotal role in Finnish handicrafts and the evolution of the Finnish design identity during the 1900s. Many famous designers and even architects designed their own ryas and a few dedicated their careers to designing ryas and textiles exclusively. One of the most famous and successful of those was Marjatta Metsovaara who graduated in the late 40s and started Metsovaara Oy already in the 1950s and had her first exhibition in Artek in 1957. Her successful career continued till the late 1980s. She was known for her courageous and colourful designs, which can be seen clearly in this example.
The red seashell is made of 100% virgin wool and woven on Axminster loom. This fine example is in a beautiful original condition and was acquired in 1968 by a couple in Helsinki just as they got married. The rya hung on their bedroom wall since then.

The rug can of course be used as a carpet, as was often done back in earlier days on cold winter days.

135×180 cm