Spotlight on crafts 6.11.2015

Posti's Crafts is a miniature sheet with the aim of increasing the public appreciation of crafts. Crafts pass on traditions, give pleasure, is a popular subject at school, and provide a livelihood to many. The sheet is the result of a proposal submitted to Posti by the Finnish Crafts Organization Taito ry, the Association of Craft Teachers TOL ry and the Association of Technology Teachers TAO ry. The miniature sheet is designed by Aamu Song and Johan Olin, who together make up the artist partnership COMPANY.

The stamps depict products made from many different materials, representing both traditional and new crafting techniques and a more industrial way of working. The featured craft products are Rose socks and Grandmother's Squareby Tuula Kunnas, Birch bark handbag by Auli Vasara, as well as Dancing Shoes and Porcini Stool by COMPANY. The spaces between the stamps on the sheet are filled with drawings that illustrate different crafting techniques.

Thank you Ella for this fine FDC.

Metal Craftsmanship in Ripoll, Spain 12.5.1990

Ripoll is the capital of the comarca of Ripollès, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It is located on confluence of the Ter River and its tributary Freser, next to the Pyrenees near the French border. The population was 11,057 in 2009.

The first traces of humans inhabiting the area date from the Bronze Age and can be seen in form of dolmens such as those found in El Sot de Dones Mortes or in Pardinella. This area was later used by peoples from the Atlantic culture to store bronze weapons and as a passway from the Catalan Central Depression to the Pyrenees. The area also has tombs from the late Roman occupation age and some belonging to the Visigoths.

An abundance of coal and iron ore, coupled with the ample water supply of the rivers Ter and Freser, encouraged a metal-working industry in the early Middle Ages. The furnaces of Ripoll were a prime source of nails for the peninsula. Later, pole arms and crossbows, always in demand, were added to Ripoll’s exports. Ripoll enjoyed a reputation throughout Europe for the production of firearms. That success as a manufacturer of firearms brought frequent trouble to the city. French invasions in 1794, 1809, 1812, and 1813 crippled the city industries. However, the final and utter destruction of Ripoll, resulting from mines and blasting, occurred in 1839 during the Carlist Wars.

Ornately beautiful gold-embossed Swan 8.5.2015

Finnish illustrator and designer Klaus Haapaniemi unveiled his first foray into stamp design on the 8^th of May, with the release of his Gold swan.

The stamp’s ornate decorations, rendered in gold foil, are inspired by eastern Finnish and Slavic cultural traditions. Similar patterns can be found in Haapaniemi’s Taika and Satumetsä designs for Finnish homeware giant Iittala.

Haapaniemi’s bird and animal figures were also seen on stage earlier this year in the Finnish National Opera’s production Ovela kettu (Sly fox), with his stage and costume design attracting huge plaudits. London-based Klaus Haapaniemi is considered one of the most significant illustrators and designers of the younger generation. His work with a number of high profile, international brands includes accessories, fashion, prints and advertising campaigns. At the moment, Haapaniemi is particularly in demand in Japan.

Thank you Ella for this lovely FDC.