Ilmari Lappalainen

Pair of Finnish ‘Laila’ armchairs (model ‘238’), designed by Ilmari Lappalainen (1918-2006). Manufactured by Asko in the late 1940s. Seats are newly upholstered in Espresso sheepskin...

Ilmari Lappalainen "Pulkka" lounge chair and ottoman, by Asko, Finland. Original white leather cushions with removable headrest and leather armrests, aluminum frame. The original wh...

Rare pair of adjustable lounge club or arm chairs, rendered in dove gray leather with brushed cold rolled aluminum frame. These chairs are modeled after classic champaign furniture. The seat is adjustable in 3 positions to go from a seated high back position to a lounging reclined chaise position. Designed by Ilmari Lappalainen, the Pulkka chair...

Finnish 'Laila' armchair, model '238', designed by Ilmari Lappalainen. Manufactured by Asko in Finland, 1950s. Wooden legs, newly upholstered in Espresso sheepskin. Dimensions: Heig...

Ottoman for the Pulkka Lounge Chair with by the Finnish manufacturer Asko after a design by Ilmari Lappalainen from the 60s. As an ottoman for the matching Pulkka Lounge Chair or as ...

The “Laila” models from the series by the Finnish designer Ilmari Lappalainen originates from 1948, with the earliest original drawings kept in the Lahti City Museum in their Lappalainen Collection. Designed in the halcyon phase of what we know today as Mid-Century Modern, this charming sofa is a unique evidence of how traditional Finnish craftsmanship was brought into modernism. This sofa is from the Finnish designer’s most famous series called “Laila”. The design became sought after by collectors even in its production time, which is quite rare in the case of Nordic Mid-Century Modern furniture. Lappalainen was a renowned designer, famous for his designs’ comfort. Some of his designs even received medical approval because they had such a good seating that it prevented back problems. As an essentially Finnish modern piece, this sofa is built around the core characteristics of the era: gently rounded edges, tapered wooden legs, and a generous, fully upholstered body. The style was modelled on the Swedish and Danish furniture of the time, including the round edges and generous seat cushion and back with three large tufted buttons. In the absence of ornamentation, the three large tufted buttons on the back stand out, creating depth as they sink into the textured green fabric. The design has the “Classic Nordic look”, which explains the contemporary popularity of this sofa both among the public and museums. The modern aesthetic is further elevated by the textured, premium upholstery that complements the shape and the wooden, tapered legs as well. Wood is omnipresent in the Nordics, and Finnish woodworking is world-famous for its traditions. This sofa was created for Asko, the Finnish furniture manufacturing company founded in 1918 by Aukusti Asko Avonius, known for the production of high-quality furniture. By 1930 the company had developed into the largest furniture chain in Finland and the largest supplier of furniture in the Scandinavian countries. Favourites of this time included Ilmari Lappalainen’s Laila...

An elegant armchair model 'Laila' designed by Ilmari Lappalainen and manufactured by Asko Oy in Finland in the 1950s. The chair has been reupholstered with high quality white sheepsk...

A dark-stained birch and beige fabric lounge chair designed by Ilmari Lappalainen and produced by Asko, Finland, c. 1950s. Dimensions (inches): 33.25"H x 33.5"W x 34"D Seat Height:...