Finnish the generic name is "Varaava Takka." It
means "heat storing fireplace."
"Tuli Kivi" translates as "fire
stone." Soapstone from the Earths mantle is the
best naturally occurring material to withstand fire and store
heat. It is dense and has a high refractory capability. Tulikivi
soapstone is smooth and warm to the touch.
Wood is vigorously burned in a compact
soapstone firebox. The flue gasses are baffled
to pass over a large mass before exiting the chimney.
After the fire, the damper is closed, and
the retained heat is radiated into the room for up to 24 hours
and more - after the fire has gone out.
Contrast this with the typical open fireplace
in the English tradition that we find throughout North America.
Since the opening is large, the flue must also be large, and
the heat - often more than is produced by the fire - is lost
up the chimney.
The Northern European fireplace tradition
offers a much more conservative approach - both to the amount
of fuel consumed and the heat retained.
And lets face it - Vermont and New
Hampshire have a climate more in common with the cool, blue
north of Finland.
At this latitude - no home should be without