Our history
Kivilähde’s roots go back to 1989 when a stone industry company named Kaavin Kivi Oy was set up in Kaavi, Pohjois-Savo. The company’s first premises were in an old barn, where stone was worked primarily into stone objects and furniture. Demand led the company to change operations and begin manufacturing sculptures and gravestones, and larger premises were needed as a result. When Kaavin Kivi began to manufacture countertops in the late 1990s, the number of factories increased to two. Today, Kaavi is home to two factories specialising in the manufacture of gravestones and countertops; one on Kirjekuorentie road and one on Varikkotie road. There is also a factory outlet on Kirjekuorentie road.
A factory was built in Ylöjärvi in autumn 2013. The place used to be home to a stone-bordered spring, where locals used to collect water. That’s how the name Kivilähde, which is Finnish for “stone spring” came about alongside the Kaavin Kivi name. At the same time, the name was extended to cover all of the company’s operations nationwide. Nowadays the Ylöjärvi branch is home to a factory specialising in manufacturing countertops and stores that display a comprehensive range of countertops, gravestones and decorative stones.
Kivilähde extended operations into Helsinki in autumn 2015. At that time, a store was opened right next to the Hietaniemi cemetery at the address Mechelininkatu 3 B. The store displays gravestones and countertops. The store also provides additional engraving and restoration services for customers in the capital city area.
The newest Kivilähde branch is in Tapanila in Helsinki, at the address Punttikuja 3. The Tapanila branch has a store and production facilities where additional engraving and restoration work are carried out.
Kivilähde is known for its good service, personal and beautiful monuments, and its high-quality stone countertops. The company aims to realise its customers’ wishes and ideas in stone form. Kivilähde’s factories have manufactured more than 40,000 gravestones for private individuals and dozens of sculptures and monuments for e.g. parishes. Larger works made to order include Ukri Merikanto’s artwork Anadyomene in Mariehamn on the Åland islands, and iconostasis stonework designed by Petros Sasaki for the Orthodox church in Kajaani.
The types of stone used in gravestones are mostly Finnish. Kivilähde wants to promote the use of Finnish stone now and in the future, as it has sentimental value in gravestones and a positive effect on employment. Kivilähde quarries its popular red wine-coloured Lilac Pearl gneiss from Rautavaara, its dark green and brown Aarni granite from Kiuruvesi and its grey Silver Green quartzite from Varpaisjärvi. In addition, the company is investigating several stone deposits. Our own deposits guarantee high-quality stone and a wide range of colours for our customers.
In 2019, Kivilähde will reach its 30-year milestone. Today, Kivilähde acts as a trailblazer in modern Finnish stonemasonry and in honour of our long history, we have adopted the “by Kaavin Kivi” signature to guarantee the quality of our products.
