Viljo Mäkinen
Viljo Mäkinen (1920 – 1985) a sculptor at heart with a wonderfully warm sense of humor, Viljo Mäkinen brought a delightful, human touch to the world of Finnish ceramics. Spending much of his career at the Arabia Art Department from the late 1940s through the 1960s, he became celebrated for his expressive, small-scale sculptures and unique studio pottery. While his peers often focused on pure abstract lines, Mäkinen captured the soulful essence of people and animals—most famously through his charming stoneware figurines of owls, horses, and village characters. Covered in rich, textured glazes, his hand-sculpted pieces radiate a rustic honesty and playful storytelling that make them incredibly captivating and rare treasures for modern collectors.