When my wife was a child, her father gave her svilpaunieks made of wood - a forest owlet which soon became Tatjana's favourite toy and thus also the prototype of mine. We believe that the sound of the svilpaunieks will cheer you up and remind you of your childhood.

This clay bird is not something to put on a shelf to collect dust on. You can play the whistle by covering and uncovering the holes and creating archaic melodies of 3-4 notes which will take you back to the olden days.

When I was little I saw a film about Latgalian ceramics and to this day I still remember the scene with a little boy playing svilpaunieks. 20 years later I, already as a potter, saw the film again and recognised my teacher – the little boy with the whistle. Let the svilpaunieks bring you array of pleasant surprises!

I'm from Riga -a city boy. Look up to Riga's church towers! Roosters sit proudly on top of them with the sunshine lighting up their frames. My big brothers are made of gold and copper but I am from clay. Play my song and it will take you back to Riga.