Estonian artist Mati Karmin designs and crafts custom furniture from old Russian deep sea mines and sells them under the name MARINEMINE.
Using historical deep-sea mines that were made in Russia in 1942 and used to fight submarines, he turns them into everything from baby carriages to bathtubs.
A bit of background about the mines:
The AGSB-type was a big galvanic deep-sea mine, equipped with “Blok” device and two contact electro-magnetic antennas. The upper antenna was kept steady by a buoy. The mine was used to fight submarines. It was still manufactured as late as the 1950s. The original mines are 875mm in diameter, weigh 1140 kg and had an explosive charge of 240 kg.
In the early 1990s, the Soviet army burned the explosives out of the mines that were stored in Naissaar, leaving a multitude of cases scattered around. Lots of them were taken to the mainland as scrap-iron during the cleaning of the island. There is still an existing field of mines in Mädasadam as a sight for tourists to see.
About the Mine Furniture:
Karmin uses the mines as modules. The entire furniture series is composed of only two existing basic forms of mines – the hemisphere and the cylinder. He has concocted utility articles of diverse forms, resulting in armchairs, an aquarium, a writing desk, a bed, a toilet, a bar cabinet, a bathtub, a swing and fireplaces. The artist turns the militaristic metallic scrap into furniture that appears as a combination of modern design and retro steampunk. He has added beautiful hand-treated copper details, metal mesh, leather upholstery and granite and glass surfaces, thus consciously increasing the semantic contradiction of the objects. Mine furniture is by no means scrap furniture in its usual meaning; it is carefully designed and carfted. The results are works of art that are simultaneously sculptures and functional pieces of furniture.
The Wardrobe / Armoire
The cylindrical parts of one or two mine-shells are combined with the regularly-dimensioned mine-shell, which gives it a slender verticality. The leg is a metal form of antique origin. The lightness is achieved by using the metal grating on the doors. According to needs there are pipes for clothes hangers and shelves in the bottom of the cabinet.
The Chandelier:
One of the most gorgeous objects in collection: three hemispheres made of mine-shell have been added downwards to an entire mine-shell. Detonator mock-ups made of plexiglass are used as light bulbs. In every detonator there is a halogen light, which makes the chandelier a really good flood lamp.
The Aquarium:
Three hemispheres are used – one as a base; in between the two others there stands a circular or polygonal glass tank with the capacity of 100-150 litres. The top hemisphere rests on decorative metal elements – for example torn metal sheets. There aquarium also includes all the necessary devices such as light, pump, filter, etc.
The Bathtub:
The extended form of the bathtub is achieved by adding cylindrically cut pieces from mine-shells to the regularly-dimensioned mine-shell. The stainless steel bath inside the marine mine casing is custom-made in accordance with customer’s wishes. Extended steel detonator mock-ups are used as legs for the bathtub. The selection of sanitary engineering is based on the design of particular item.
The Bed:
The sides of the bed are made of merged mine shells. The construction is reinforced with a bearing frame which stands on its feet. The bottom of the bed is made of caprone band, which gives it the needed elasticity. In the head and foot part of the bed there are places for radio, alarm clock, etc.
The Davenport Desk:
This table is made of two complete mine-shells, which are aligned vertically and symmetrically, resting on their circle bases. Between them there is a cylindrical mine-shell piece which has a drawer in it. On both sides, in both vertically aligned mine-shells there are two drawers moving on a ball bearings. All the modules are merged together by a massive polished granite desktop.
The Baby Carriage:
Baby carriage consists of an entire mine-shell that has been placed on a chassis of an antique hand-stroller. The hand-stroller, which has springs and rubber-coated wheels, dates back to the last century. The baby carriage is the most playful and imaginative object which isn’t shaped to be functional although this 80 kg toy rolls off surprisingly easy. The handles are made from a Soviet Union hand grenade.
The Spherical Fireplace:
Cylindrical central part from the regularly-dimensioned mine-shell has been removed, making it a perfectly spherical form. The leg is made of steel pipe (ca 200 mm thick), which also gives a visual balance to the same sized chimney. Authentic illuminators (from old ships) with bronze, brass or chromed-metal frames, heat resistant glass (diameter ca 45 cm/17.7 in) and heat-resistant joints are used as doors for the fireplace. Internal structures, interim plate and fire grate are made of cast iron. Ash pan is removable. The number and size of the illuminator doors is made according to customer’s wishes.
The Elliptical Fireplace:
A regularly-dimensioned mine-shell has been used, which enables higher heating chamber and unconventional solution with two-sided doors. Possible opportunities are convex heat-resistant glass or net curtains, which are less fuel-efficient. Ash pan opens as a separate form in the lower part of the fireplace. The leg is formed of 200 mm steel pipe as well as the chimney, which also provides heating to the interior.
Armchairs and Office Chairs
The Relax:
An elliptical hole has been cut into the mine-shell. A metal strip is welded on the edge of the cut for thickening and padding. The seat base of the chair is made of caprone bands which are attached to welded loops. It imitates the military design and is really rational and minimalistic. The minimalistic cushion and headrest are made of canvas. Rubber-coated wheels are moving on ball-bearings and come from Wermacht conveyor Sd.Kfz7. The rear rubber-coated wheel is attached to the mine shell with a bracket. The position of the wheel is adjustable which allows you to change the tilt of the chair.
The Pöördtool – Retro:
Made of two hemispheres of a mine shell. The lower hemisphere forms a base on which the upper hemisphere can be smoothly rotated with the help of ball-bearing. The design of the chair follows the geometric line. Metal strip is welded on the cut edges of the upper hemisphere for thickening and padding. The interlaced caprone seat base is adhered to welded loops in the chair, forming the base for the seat. The cushion and headrest are made of tarpaulin in a minimalistic style.
The Royal:
Cylindrical central part from the regularly-dimensioned mine-shell has been removed, making it a perfectly spherical form. The leg is made of steel pipe (ca 200 mm thick), which also gives a visual balance to the same sized chimney. Authentic illuminators (from old ships) with bronze, brass or chromed-metal frames, heat resistant glass (diameter ca 45 cm/17.7 in) and heat-resistant joints are used as doors for the fireplace. Internal structures, interim plate and fire grate are made of cast iron. Ash pan is removable. The number and size of the illuminator doors is made according to customer’s wishes.
The Farmer:
An elliptical hole is cut into the mine-shell. A metal strip is welded on the edge of the cut for thickening and padding. A padding, which is attached to the interlaced caprone band base, is covered with cowhide cushions. The c has rubber-coated wheels with an excellent rolling due the ball-bearings. The position of the wheels is adjustable, enabling you to change the tilt of the chair.
See more at Marinemine.com
all images and product descriptions courtesy of Marinemine
A thank you to Home World Design for bringing this unusual furniture to my attention.