This man takes WWII relics and turns them into baby carriages and bathtubs

Talia Avakian

Aug 25, 2015, 01:01 IST

Estonian artist Mati Karmin uses sea mines created during World War II to create one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture.

Timo Kilpela¨inen

The mines make up the framing of this industrial-style bed, complete with netting added in by the artist.

The frames used for the pieces, which include everything from a bed to a bathtub, are constructed using historical deep-sea mines that were made in Russia in 1942.

Marinemine Furniture

The inside of this bathtub has been plated to avoid rust.

Built and used in the Baltic Sea and in the Gulf of Finland during the war, sea mines continued to be produced well into the 1950s.

Marinemine Furniture

Light components punctuate the holes in these mines to make an eye-catching chandelier.

Thousands of these sea mines were held in warehouses on the Gulf of Finland in destinations like the island of Naissaar, which was classified as a secret military facility during the Soviet occupation.

Marinemine Furniture

Karmin has even made grills out of the mines.

In the 1990s, the Soviet army burned the explosives out of the mines that were still in working order, leaving their cases on the island.

Marinemine Furniture

He can transform the mines into just about anything his clients dream up.

Karmin, who has always had a passion for working with unusual materials, was having his car fixed at an auto shop in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, when he came across one of the empty marinemine shells more than 10 years ago.

In need of a new fireplace, he was immediately fascinated by the shape and decided to transform the mine into something new.

Marinemine Furniture

A simple fireplace was his first sea mine design.

Soon, his friends began to ask if he could make the same type of furniture for them. And that's when Marinemine Furniture was born.

Marinemine Furniture

Karmin also makes these cozy scoop chairs.

Using the mine shells, which are basically spheres with holes, spikes, and shackles, the artist adds hand-treated copper details, metal mesh, leather upholstery, and glass surfaces to build these unique yet functional works of art.

Marinemine furniture

Plush leather seating and granite plates were added to create this striking office set.

Although Karmin's pieces are custom made and prices vary depending on design, items typically range from approximately $3,000 to $20,000.

Marinemine Furniture

The mine takes a backseat to the tinted glass of this coffee table.

Attracted to the fact that these mines still bear the stamp of their destructive purpose, Karmin has taken what was once a deadly weapon and turned it into something to be admired.

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