The Economist's More Intelligent Life runs a more intelligent feature by Julian "More Intelligent" Barnes called "Where Sibelius Fell Silent". It dissects Jean Sibelius' "grand log villa" on a one-acre plot in Järvenpää where he composed most of his major works until he fell silent for almost 30 years until 1957 when he died at age 91. Forty clicks north of Helsinki, he called it "Ainola" and raised five daughters who in 1972 sold the house and its contents to the Finnish state which opened it as a museum in 1974.
Sibelius was buried on the grounds and was joined 12 years later by his wife. Just in case his ghost wants to come back and party (and finish that 8th symphony), most of his personal effects are still gathering frost in the house, including a white summer jacket (above) aaand...that's obviously not a chamber pot but for our 6th grade humor's sake -- it's close enough!
