Exhibit of School Badges by Jewellery Company Roman Tavast on Display in Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

12.05.2011

No 34-TT

On Thursday, 19 May the exhibit “Class badge – School symbol” (”Klassi märk – kooli sümbol”), curated by director of the Tallinn Art Hall Harry Liivrand, will be opened at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki (Itäinen Puistotie 10). Visitors will be able to view school badges that were made by the Roman Tavast jewellery company between 1923 and 2010.

Goldsmith and artist Roman Tavast (1895-1942) established the badge, medal and trophy-making company VMT ROMAN TAVAST in 1923. It became the biggest and most popular company in its field in pre-war Estonia. The company was reinstated in 1993. Today it is the biggest producer of badges, medals, and exclusive business gifts based on domestic capital in Estonia.

The exhibit gives the Finnish public its first-ever look the school and class badges produced by the Roman Tavast jewellery company. About 70 of the 750 school badges that have been produced by the company are on display, along with 60 rings and other school emblems. Finland is represented by 20 items, for example badges for Turku University, Aalto University, and the University of Eastern Finland, as well as a Templar cross of the Finnish Brotherhood of the Templars and cufflinks of the Helsinki stock exchange club.

The exhibit will be on display from 20 May until 31 August and can be viewed on weekdays between 9.00 – 17.00; guests must register in advance by calling the phone number +358 9 622 02 60 or by email at .

Additional information: Liisa Ojaveer, Embassy cultural counsellor, e-mail:

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