Manufacturer · Finland · est. 1937
Kalevala Koru
Kalevala Koru – Finnish jewellery maker founded in 1937 on the initiative of writer Elsa Heporauty, drawing on historic Finnish jewellery.
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About the manufacturer
- Years active
- est. 1937
- Country
- Finland
The company was founded in 1937 by a group of socially active women led by writer Elsa Heporauty. The aim was to make jewellery based on historic Finnish pieces available and to raise funds for a monument to Finnish women. The first designs were created by Germund Paaer, the company's chief designer until 1950. Paaer's designs and those of his successors drew on historic Finnish jewellery. In 1947, a design competition was won by Heli Vuori.
In the 1950s, the chief designer was Eero Rislakki, who was one of the first to use Finnish stones in jewellery. Börje Rajalin's “Hopeahimmeli” (1960) won a gold medal at the Milan Triennial. From 1963, the chief designer was Paula Häiväoja – the first woman to hold the position. The company also worked with Björn Weckström, creator of “Flowering Wall” (1965) and the “People Need People” brooch (1969), which was chosen as the signature symbol for Finnair flight attendants. Weckström was also the artistic director of Lapponia.
In 1989, Kalevala Koru acquired Kaunis Koru, founded in 1956. In 1994, the Kalevala Jewelry Cultural Foundation was established, and in 2005, Lapponia joined the company.
