I’ve had the fortune to have contact with one of Jorma Laine’s children the last week. Her name is Annukka Laine, 52 years old today, and an artist herself. She has been kind enough to contribute with a short biography on her father, and share some personal photographs. I hope you will enjoy this like I have, words can’t really begin to describe how grateful I am for her willingness to let us know more about her father.
“
My father was born on 10th of July 1930, he was the eldest and only son of the family. He was born in Turku. His parents were from the working class and were not directly involved in handicrafts, but my grand-father was very talented in making everything with his hands.
My father was artistically always very talented. When he was young boy he spent his time drawing most of the time. He studied in a very famous art school in Turku, Turun Piirustuskoulu.
He died 27th of December 2002 from heart attack. Alone in his small log house in the forest. He was more or less a hermit. He was very happy that way. In the Summer 2002 he said: “If people knew how happy I am! “
My father was a special guy. He did not like people much, but loved his own solitude. He was not a family man either. But he loved nature and animals, especially birds, he loved history and culture, and he was continuously inside some inspiration cloud. He was not only a jewelry designer, but also a very talented painter and sculptor, a medalist. He made things of all materials. Also ceramic and glass. Wood and leather. What ever. And every peace he made was amazing. Also your king has one pair of my father’s cufflinks and Carl Gustav also have written a letter to my father to thank him, but unfortunately an other person has the letter :-)
But as so many talented people, he was a bit shy, not commercially orientated at all, he did not prefer the crowds, did not know how to defend himself really, drank alcohol quite much. I don’t think he was alcoholic, but he consumed some…. :-))
My father married for a first time quite young (year?) and had a son J***. J*** was six years older than me. There was divorce and my father never really knew how to be a father to his son, and later to me. J*** committed suicide in Sweden, Stockholm, 1985, at the age of 33. That broke Jorma’s heart and from that date he got a heart disease and had to take medication for the rest of his life and he also died from heart attack.
I was born in the second marriage 1958 and I was one when my parent’s divorced. So my father never married again but had many women, he loved women :-)) And women loved him.
He earned a lot of money but he never had money. He died in a small log house in a forest alone, as he also had lived alone. But happily. Nothing fancy, a simple life, but he was very happy and that is what counts.
My father was a very deep old soul, I would say. He understood the essence of many things. He did not talk much, but there was something in him. It could be seen in the eyes as well. or perhaps it was this connection between daughter and father.. He was very much rooted in the nature. Animals were not afraid of him. Even a moose could come to his yard to “talk” with him and in a hot Summer day my father offered him to drink water. My father followed very nearly the birds’ life on his yeard. And I remember when my father was dead the birds were like crazy. Two dead birds were found inside the house as they had tried to come in. And also outside they seemed to be nervous, like looking for him. He always gave them food.
When I was like 13 and we were walking in the forest, my father told me about elves. He saw elves. He could see all kinds of nature entities and describethem. For him they were reality. I know other people that also can see elves, but it is very rare… :-) But he could. He was part of that world.”
Written by Annuka Laine, Sept. 2010.
![As promised, here’s the second catalogue scan!
I think this one is more exciting that the second, for various reasons:
1. Many designs here are very traditional, and departs from the outlandish and sometimes outrageous designs we’re used to seeing.
2. One can see how well Jorma constructs his work, when it comes design. Even the simplest designs are beautifully composed in term of form.
3. The influences that can be seen in the designs. From the ancient Egyptian life symbol of the Ankh present in the first pendant, top row, to the lingering Jugend forms seen in some of the flowery designs to the Art Déco seen in the stylized fruits and body parts. Versatile, but still easily recognizable as Jorma Laine pieces.
Out of the designs seen here I only have 3897 in my collection, which makes a bit sad as some of these are truly beautiful. The fallic fish hook makes me drool! The apple with the facetted rock crystal and the pear are also totally delicious!
[Thanks to Mika @ freetechnics.fi for the scans!]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8uapmAlS21qdfpn0o1_500.jpg)
