Classic piece: Ikiturso

During 70 years of business, many of the Kalevala Jewelry’s pieces have become classics. The collection still includes jewelry that has been produced since the start of the company in 1937. In addition, familiar classic pieces are accompanied by new favourite pieces that have also proved popular from one decade to another.

In 1947, the first head designer of Kalevala Jewelry, Germund Paaer, designed the Kirjokansi collection that consists of jewelry replicas of ancient treasures. Paaer truly gave free reign to his imagination when designing jewelry. As Paaer was familiar with the history of jewelry, it was natural for him to adapt elements and ornaments that are found in jewelry from the times of the Vikings. These ornaments come to life in jewelry pieces that represent Paaer’s strong eye for style and design.

The Ikiturso bracelet is one of the highlights of the Kirjokansi collection. When designing jewelry, Paaer might have been inspired by the Kalevala runes in which there is a water-monster called Ikiturso (also known as Iku-Turso). The story goes that Ikiturso, son of Äijö, rises from the sea and stops the flight of Väinämöinen and others as they flee from Pohjola with the stolen Sampo. The Mistress of Pohjola was furious at the theft of the Sampo and thus she summoned Ikiturso to prevent the flight of Väinämöinen. Väinämöinen manages to seize the water-monster Ikiturso and lifts him up by his ears. Väinämöinen then asks why the monster has risen to torment them. Väinämöinen has to ask three times before Ikiturso confesses that he wanted to destroy the Kalew-heroes and return the magic Sampo to the people of Pohjola. However, the scene ends in harmony: Väinämöinen lets Ikiturso go when he promises to disappear into his deep-sea castles and never arise from the sea again. In the Ikiturso bracelet from Kalevala Jewelry, the drama of the story and design are exquisitely portrayed.