Alvar Aalto

Finnish, 1898-1976

An architect and designer, Alvar Aalto deserves an immense share of the credit for bringing Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design to a prominent place in the global arena. In both his buildings and his vintage furniture — which ranges from chairs, stools, tables and lighting to table- and glassware — Aalto’s sensitivity to the natural world and to organic forms and materials tempered the hardness of rationalist design.

Relatively few Aalto buildings exist outside Finland. (Just four exist in the United States, and only one — the sinuous 1945 Baker House dormitory at M.I.T. — is easily visited.) International attention came to Aalto, whose surname translates to English as “wave,” primarily through his furnishings.

Instead of the tubular metal framing favored by the Bauhaus designers and Le Corbusier, Aalto insisted on wood. His aesthetic is best represented by the Paimio armchair, developed with his wife, Aino Aalto, in 1930 as part of the overall design of a Finnish tuberculosis sanatorium.

Comfortable, yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the Paimio chair’s frame is composed of two laminated birch loops; the seat and back are formed from a single sheet of plywood that scrolls under the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a sort of pillow effect. Aalto’s use of plywood had an enormous influence on Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and others who later came to the material.

Concerned with keeping up standards of quality in the production of his designs, Aalto formed the still-extant company Artek in 1935, along with Aino, whose glass designs were made by the firm. In the latter medium, in 1936 the Aaltos together created the iconic, undulating Savoy vase, so-called for the luxe Helsinki restaurant for which the piece was designed.

Artek also produced Aalto pendants and other lighting designs, many of which — such as the Angel’s Wing floor lamp and the Beehive pendant — incorporate a signature Aalto detail: shades made of concentric enameled-metal rings graduated down in diameter. The effect of the technique is essential Alvar Aalto: at once precise, simple, and somehow poetic.

Find a collection of vintage Alvar Aalto stools, vases, dining tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price

$3,330

Styles

Materials

Related Creators

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Iconic Designs from Alvar Aalto

Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.

Alvar Aalto Stool 60

Alvar Aalto Savoy Vase

Alvar Aalto Tea Cart 900

Alvar Aalto Hallway Armchair

Pre-Artek Alvar Aalto Model 75/915 Birch Side Table for Paimio, 1930s

$10,202

H 23.86 in W 23.63 in D 19.61 in

Pre-Artek Alvar Aalto Model 75/915 Birch Side Table for Paimio, 1930s

By Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, Alvar Aalto

Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi

An early pre-Artek example of Alvar Aalto’s Side Table 75/915, designed in 1932 for Paimio Sanatorium in Finland. Produced by Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab before Artek was e...

Category

1930s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto

Materials

Birch

Mid-Century Modern Minimalist A110 Metal Pendant Alvar Aalto for Louis Poulsen

$1,719 / item

H 15.95 in Dm 6.11 in

Mid-Century Modern Minimalist A110 Metal Pendant Alvar Aalto for Louis Poulsen

By Alvar Aalto

Located in Hamburg, DE

Rare version of the A110 pendant lamp by Louis Poulsen, based on a design by Alvar Aalto from the early 1950s. A minimalist design. This version of the “hand grenade” impresses with...

Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Alvar Aalto

Materials

Metal

Alvar Aalto Wooden Room Divider, Screen 100 in Pine, Artek 1960s

$14,672

H 59.06 in W 78.75 in D 0.6 in

Alvar Aalto Wooden Room Divider, Screen 100 in Pine, Artek 1960s

By Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy, Alvar Aalto

Located in Helsinki, FI

Alvar Aalto’s 100 Slatted Wall is a dynamic and sculptural interior element, composed of narrow vertical pine slats joined together to create a flexibl...

Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto

Materials

Pine

Alvar Aalto Savoy Bowl Dish, Pair

$275 / set

H 1.19 in W 3.75 in D 3.38 in

Alvar Aalto Savoy Bowl Dish, Pair

By Iittala, Alvar Aalto

Located in New York, NY

Two beautiful and iconic Scandinavian Modern Aalto clear glass bowls, Iittala, Finland, circa late-20th century. These clear dishes or bowls are taken fro...

Category

Late 20th Century Finnish Organic Modern Alvar Aalto

Materials

Glass

Set of 5 Alvar Aalto Model 65 Chairs In Birch & Blue Linoleum, Artek 1960s

$5,593

H 25.99 in W 13.78 in D 16.15 in

Set of 5 Alvar Aalto Model 65 Chairs In Birch & Blue Linoleum, Artek 1960s

By Alvar Aalto, Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy

Located in Helsinki, FI

A beautiful set of five Model 65 chairs, designed by Alvar Aalto, manufactured by Huonekalu- ja Rakennustehdas Oy, and retailed by Artek in Finland. The chairs are in beautiful vinta...

Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto

Materials

Laminate, Birch

Nesting Table, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1970s

$2,693

H 24.81 in W 29.73 in D 16.54 in

Nesting Table, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1970s

By Artek, Alvar Aalto

Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa

Nesting table, design Alvar Aalto, manufactured by Artek, 1970s. Birch and ash. Marked. Good vintage condition, minor patina consistent with agen and use. Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) i...

Category

1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto

Materials

Ash, Birch

Rare Set of 5 1940s Alvar Aalto 60 Birch Nesting stools

$3,600Sale Price|40% Off

H 18 in Dm 14 in

Rare Set of 5 1940s Alvar Aalto 60 Birch Nesting stools

By Alvar Aalto

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A set of 5 Early Stool #60 designed by Alvar Aalto and produced in Sweden by Artek. During the war period Artek opened factories in neutral Sweden where supplies were still available...

Category

1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto

Materials

Birch, Bentwood, Plywood, Lacquer

Alvar Aalto Entryway Console Mirror and Stool Set, 1950s for Artek

$6,465

H 68.9 in W 19.69 in D 12.6 in

Alvar Aalto Entryway Console Mirror and Stool Set, 1950s for Artek

By Alvar Aalto, Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, Artek

Located in Helsinki, FI

A beautiful entryway set of a drawer console, mirror and stool by Alvar Aalto for Artek made of solid birch. The set is in original condition with a light surface finishing. The wood...

Category

1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alvar Aalto

Materials

Birch, Mirror

Browse all Furniture from Alvar Aalto

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Alvar Aalto Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Material

Creation Year

2026	$11,520	Chairs, Dining Room Chairs	Birch, Fabric, Textile, Velvet	1950-1960
2026	$10,000	Floor Lamps	Brass, Leather	1950-1959
2026	$1,355	Stools	Birch	C1955
2026	$4,100	Floor Lamps	Brass, Leather	2000s
2026	$900	Chairs	Birch	ca 1950
2026	$1,720	Dining Room Chairs	Birch	1930s
2026	$2,500	Stools	Birch	1950s
2026	$9,355	Lounge Chairs	Upholstery, Bentwood	Unknown
2026	$4,695	Lounge Chairs	Upholstery, Bentwood	Unknown
2026	$1,800	Chairs, Stools	Teak	1960s
2026	$3,989	Lounge Chairs	Wool, Birch	1950s
2026	$4,250	Armchairs	Fabric, Beech	1970
2026	$7,600	Chandeliers and Pendants	Brass	1950s
2026	$700	Shelves	Birch	1960s
2026	$750	Picture Frames	Pine	circa 1970
2026	$2,400	Stools	Wood	1970s
2026	$3,600	Lounge Chairs	Fabric, Wood	1940's
2026	$3,595	Armchairs, Lounge Chairs	Leather, Teak	1970s
2026	$3,771	Screens and Room Dividers	Pine	1960
2026	$708	Chairs	Wood, Other	ca. 1970s

$3,330

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$250-$21,303

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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More Alvar Aalto Designs

Alvar Aalto Stool 60

Average Price

$2,084

Number Available

Alvar Aalto Stool 60

By Alvar Aalto

Materials

Wood, Birch

Styles

Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern

Although Finnish architect and furniture maker Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was recognized early in his career for his decorative interiors and innovative building concepts, his functional wood furniture reflected a simplicity that extended even to his marketing copy. “One chair is enough” is one such slogan attributed to him today. While the renowned designs he produced with his first wife Aino for a tuberculosis sanatorium in Paimio included tubular steel, Aalto eventually distanced himself from...

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Alvar Aalto Savoy Vase

Average Price

$1,502

Number Available

Alvar Aalto Savoy Vase

By Alvar Aalto

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Styles

Scandinavian Modern

When Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) designed the curvilinear Savoy vase in 1936 for the eponymous luxurious restaurant in Helsinki set to open the following year, he created one of the most well-known glass objects of the 20th century. The Savoy vase — commonly referred to as the “Aalto vase” — won first prize at 1936’s Karhula-Iittala Glass Design Competition, held to determine which works would be included in the Finnish Pavilion at the 1937 Paris World Expo. This ...

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Alvar Aalto Tea Cart 900

Average Price

$9,844

Number Available

Alvar Aalto Tea Cart 900

By Alvar Aalto

Materials

Wood, Birch, Natural Fiber, Ceramic, Rattan

Styles

Scandinavian Modern

Making its international debut at the 1937 Paris World Exhibition, the Tea Trolley 900 encapsulates Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto's (1898–1976) influential approach to modernism through its emphasis on local materials and elegant pragmatism. A modern take on the traditional British tea cart, it is a versatile domestic object: It can be rolled up for dinner, tucked away in a corner for housing odds and ends or presented as a striking centerpiece. With a ceramic tile serving tray, ...

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Alvar Aalto Hallway Armchair

Average Price

$3,526

Number Available

Alvar Aalto Hallway Armchair

By Alvar Aalto

Materials

Birch, Wood

Styles

Mid Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern

A classic modernist masterpiece conceived by Finnish architects and designers Alvar and Aino Aalto (1898–1976; 1894–1949) in 1932, the Hallway armchair is lightweight, slender and perhaps above all, comfortable. While it has since been coveted by collectors for use in nearly any room in the house, the chair was originally part of the furnishings for the Paimio Sanatorium — a facility that treated tuberculosis patients, tucked away in a dense pine forest in the rural Finnish city of Paimio. Th...

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Alvar Aalto furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Alvar Aalto furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Alvar Aalto furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 448 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 8 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Alvar Aalto were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Ilmari Tapiovaara, Oy Stockmann AB, and Yrjö Kukkapuro. Prices for Alvar Aalto furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $113 and can go as high as $80,707, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,662.

Questions About Alvar Aalto

What is Alvar Aalto known for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
Alvar Aalto is known for bringing Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design to global prominence. In his designs for buildings and furniture, Aalto's sensitivity to the natural world and to organic forms and materials tempered the hardness of rationalist design. One of his most famous pieces is the Paimio armchair, which he designed in 1930 for a Finnish tuberculosis sanatorium. Comfortable yet light enough to be easily moved by patients, the Paimio chair's frame is made of two laminated birch loops. The seat and back are formed from a single sheet of plywood that scrolls under the headrest and beneath the knees, creating a pillow effect. Aalto's use of plywood had an enormous influence on Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and many others. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Alvar Aalto furniture.
What style did Alvar Aalto use?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
The style most commonly associated with Alvar Aalto is Scandinavian modern. As an architect and designer, Aalto deserves an immense share of the credit for bringing Scandinavian modernism and Nordic design to a prominent place in the global arena. In both his buildings and his vintage furniture, Aalto's sensitivity to the natural world and organic forms and materials tempered the hardness of rationalist design, as is indicative of Scandinavian modern pieces. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Alvar Aalto furniture.
What is the Paimio chair designed by Alvar Aalto?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
The Paimio chair, designed by Alvar Aalto, is a type of armchair created in 1932. Also called the Armchair 41, it was intended to help people breathe easier and was designed for a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Finnish city of Paimio. For the chair's frame, Aalto and his wife, Aino, opted to use Finland's native birchwood, which is strong and inexpensive and felt warmer and more organic than the tubular steel found in similarly shaped pieces. Laminated wood loops form the arms, legs and a pair of flat skids, while its sculptural seat and back are built from a single piece of thin plywood. Shop a variety of Alvar Aalto Paimio chairs on 1stDibs.