artek moomin collection

ARTEK MOOMIN COLLECTION
The Moomins in Artek’s Classic Furniture
The beloved Moomins will begin new adventures on furniture designed by Alvar Aalto.
The launch of Artek’s new selection of illustrated furniture took place in Tokyo at the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store on 13 March
2013. The familiar figures of Moomintroll, Snufkin and Little My will appear on stool 60, children’s stool NE60 and
chair N65, as well as on the round table 90B.
Moomins
The creator of the Moomins, Tove Jansson (1914–2001), was a writer, painter,
honorary doctor, cartoonist and comic book artist. The firstborn of a Swedishspeaking family of artists, her summers were spent in the Finnish archipelago
ever since she was a child. The natural world of the islands and their
atmosphere were important to her throughout her life, and they also figure large
in the Moomin stories. The attractiveness of the Moomins derives from values
associated with Finnishness, such as respect for nature, peacefulness and nonviolence. While almost a cliché for us Finns, abroad these things are perceived
as charming and exotic.
The wisdom, humour, spirited sense of adventure and warm friendship in
Moominland speak to readers across linguistic barriers. Everyday life and
adventure, familiar safety and unexpected dangers, all commingle in
Moominvalley. Even the tiniest of creatures have their adventures, whether in the
tempests of the outside world or the tangles of the heart.
Stool 60, children’s stool NE60, chair N65 & table 90B.
Stool 60, Stool E60, children’s stool NE60, chair N65 & table 90B.
STOOL 60
design Alvar Aalto 1933
3 -legs, LL-leg
Legs and side binding massif birch
Seat options:
Moomintroll-laminate
Snufkin-laminate
Little My--laminate
Stackable
STOOL 60
design Alvar Aalto 1933
“I must find something for my dear papa!”
The picture of Moomintroll is from the comic book story “Moomin
and Family Life”. Moomintroll has returned home, and Sniff has just
been adopted into the family. Now that everyone is home,
Moominmamma is content to spend a peaceful evening with the
family. But Moominpappa wants something terribly exciting to
happen. When Moomintroll hears this, he goes out to search for
something exciting for his father.
Moomintroll is kind and soft – a nature lyricist, in Tove Jansson’s
own words. He respects nature and is loyal to everybody. Through
Moomintroll, Tove Jansson also explores the oddities of being a
man and a woman. In Lars Jansson’s stories, Moomintroll is more
masculine.
STOOL E60
design Alvar Aalto 1934
4 -legs, LL-leg
Legs and side binding massif birch
Seat options:
Moomintroll--laminate
Snufkin—laminate
Little My--laminate
Stackable
STOOL E60
design Alvar Aalto 1934
“One must try not to become too attached to possessions.”
“Snufkin’ll be here today” thought Moomintroll. “It’s exactly the right kind
of day for him to arrive.”
Winter in Moominvalley is over and the first signs of spring are beginning
to appear. Tove Jansson’s classic Moominland Midwinter ends when
creatures start to wake up from their winter rest. Moomintroll's first winter
adventure is ending, and most importantly his dear friend Snufkin is
walking through the night towards Moominvalley.
Snufkin is an independent spirit, a wanderer, musician and artist. He
comes to Moominvalley in the spring and leaves in the autumn. Snufkin
and Moomintroll are bosom buddies. They sit together on the bridge,
angling and talking.
Snufkin carries no extra baggage, and if he sees something beautiful, he
makes up a poem about it. He is not attached to places or to other
creatures. He is even a bit of an anarchist. He sees the world differently,
in colours and moods. His songs are entertaining and comforting, and his
stories put fears at rest. Everybody trusts in Snufkin’s wisdom.
CHILDREN’S STOOL NE60
design Alvar Aalto 1933
4 -legs, LL-leg
Legs and side binding massif birch
Seat options:
Moomintroll--laminate
Snufkin—laminate
Little My--laminate
Stackable
CHILDREN’S STOOL NE60
design Alvar Aalto 1933
“Keep in step!” shouted Little My. “Here’s one again…you’ll feel it under
you…jump!”
Little My plays a central role in Moominland Midwinter. When
Moomintroll wakes up from hibernation into a cold winter, Little My is the
only other family member who is awake. That is the beginning of a winter
adventure in Moominvalley. On Artek furniture, Little My is seen
observing Moomintroll, who has fallen into the icy sea, while Too-Ticky
tries to help him.
CHILDREN’S CHAIR N65
design Alvar Aalto 1935
L-legs
Legs and side binding massif birch, natural lacquered
Back birch, bent plywood, natural lacquered
Seat options:
Moomintroll--laminate
Snufkin—laminate
Little My--laminate
TABLE 90B
design Alvar Aalto 1935
3 legs
L-leg
birch, natural lacquered
Table top
side binding birch, natural lacquered
diameter 75 cm, width 4 cm
Tasovaihtoehdot:
Moominland Midwinter design
birch veneer
white laminate
black linoleum
Standard heights : 72, 60 and 52 cm.
TABLE 90B
design Alvar Aalto 1935
“Later in the evening the snowfall stopped. It was as if a light curtain had
been drawn away, and there was a clear view again over the ice. Far out
a dark blue wall of clouds was still hiding the place where the sun had set.
Moomintroll watched the new and threatening weather rolling nearer.
The sky darkened suddenly again. Moomintroll, who had never seen a
blizzard, expected a thunderstorm and braced himself against the first
claps of thunder that he thought would soon ring out.”
Tove Jansson, Moominland Midwinter, 1957
Table 90B
Stool 60
Stool E60
Stool NE60
Children’s stool N65