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Description
78467 Antique Impi Sotavalta Finnish Flatweave Rug, 07'00 x 09'10.
Steeped in the soul of Finland’s golden age of textile artistry, this antique Finnish rollakan flatweave rug, Suomen Syysmaisema Maan Savyja meaning Finnish Autumn Landscape Shades of Earth, is a woven masterpiece by the visionary Impi Sotavalta. Created in the 1920s, during Finland’s artistic renaissance, this rug encapsulates the essence of the Nordic landscape, where warm, earthy ochres, sunlit ambers, and deep russet tones mirror the fleeting beauty of an autumnal horizon. With every fiber, it echoes the golden hues of falling leaves, the sun-drenched tundra, and the gentle embrace of a crisp Finnish breeze, making this piece not just a textile, but an evocative journey through nature’s seasonal poetry.
The composition is a brilliant interplay of Bauhaus simplicity and Art Deco stylization, with stepped motifs, architectural borders, and linear transitions that reflect the evolving artistic language of the time. Within its heart lies a mesmerizing labyrinth of abstracted geometric forms, each interwoven with intention, symbolizing interconnectedness, unity, and the balance of nature and design. The striking ombre effect, where bands of earthy tones dissolve seamlessly into one another, lends an ethereal quality, as if the colors themselves are shifting with the changing light of the seasons.
Sotavalta’s genius lay in her ability to bridge the traditional and the avant-garde, blending the centuries-old Finnish weaving techniques with a distinctly modernist sensibility. The handwoven wool structure exudes both durability and finesse, an enduring testament to the artisan's skill and dedication. The finely delineated motifs adorning the outermost edges—stylized zigzags, stepped forms, and mystical abstract symbols—draw from ancient Nordic and Scandinavian textile traditions, transforming the Finnish kilim rug into a canvas of woven storytelling. This interplay of past and present makes the piece a sublime fusion of history, artistry, and innovation.
As a textile relic of a transformative artistic period, this Finnish rollakan serves as more than just a decorative piece—it is a window into Finland’s artistic soul, capturing the spirit of an era when designers sought to create beauty that was both functional and poetic. It speaks to those who admire the poetry of pattern, the melody of woven threads, and the quiet majesty of Scandinavian design. Whether gracing the floors of a contemporary space or anchoring a collection of historic textiles, this rug carries with it a whisper of Finnish heritage, an echo of Sotavalta’s pioneering vision, and a legacy of artistry that transcends time.
In the embrace of its fibers, one can almost feel the autumn winds rustling through birch forests, the golden hues of the northern lights flickering against an endless sky, and the artistry of a master weaver immortalized in wool. Suomen Syysmaisema Maan Savyja is more than a rug—it is an homage to Finland’s breathtaking landscapes, a story woven into every thread, and a timeless treasure meant to be cherished, admired, and passed down through generations.
- Designed by: Impi Sotavalta.
- Title: Suomen Syysmaisema Maan Savyja meaning Finnish Autumn Landscape Shades of Earth.
- Abrash.
- Handwoven wool.
- Made in Finland.
- Measures: 07'00 x 09'10.
- Pile Height: 0.17 of an inch.
- Date: 1920's. Early 20th Century.