# Antique Weapon Fireplaces Mati Karmin Turns Old Estonian Mines into Furniture By Brian G Randles | Published 2010-10-17 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mati-karmin References: [treehugger](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/10/steampunk-worthy-furniture-naval-mines-mati-karmin.php) & [marinemine](http://www.marinemine.com/) Mati Karmin started creating his "Mine Furniture" five years ago as he was exploring the coastal zone of northern Estonia. The area was filled with old and corroded mine shells. Mati Karmin became fascinated with these items and began turning them into [functional pieces of art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grain-pile). Using these [old and discarded shells](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/objects-from-frames) of formerly destructive weapons, Karmin has created a collection of work that translates a piece of history in Estonia into tangible art. **Implications** - Reusing natural items to create products that are aesthetically appealing is an environmentally friendly way to attract customer attention. Companies will benefit from incorporating any type of [eco-friendly aspects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/j395-chair-series) into their business plan due to the importance of green living in modern society. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.8/10 - Popularity: 85% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Home](https://www.trendhunter.com/home) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Eco-friendly Furniture:** There is an opportunity to create aesthetically pleasing and functional furniture from natural materials that have a minimal environmental impact. - **Upcycled Art:** Artists and designers can take discarded materials and turn them into unique pieces that are both functional and visually appealing. - **Historical Repurposing:** Taking historical artifacts and repurposing them into functional items allows for a unique way to preserve history while creating something new and innovative. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Furniture Design:** Designers have an opportunity to incorporate environmentally-friendly materials into their furniture, creating pieces that appeal to the modern consumer who prioritizes sustainability. - **Art:** Artists can use upcycling techniques to create unique pieces that not only showcase their artistic talent but also highlight the importance of environmental sustainability. - **Historical Preservation:** Repurposing historical artifacts into functional items provides a new way to preserve history and showcase it to a wider audience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Organic Ancient Design Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/earth-to-people-furniture-collection.md) - [Felled Tree Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ptacek-home-chunk-line.md) - [Conscious Experimental Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/experimental-furniture-design.md) - [Minimal Collaborative Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ash-furniture.md) - [Hand Carved Cork Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dol-furniture.md) - [Reimagined Monolithic Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fossil-furniture.md) - [Sustainable Creative Craft Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fyrn-studio-series.md) - [Leftover Wood-Constructed Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alexander-lervik-1.md) - [Waste-Based Furniture Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecofriendly-furniture1.md)